TSSA Journal June 2012

June 2012

Conference

2012

l

Better Rail campaign launched l Thomas Cook getting active l Workplace rights under attack

in this issue

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association General Secretary: Manuel Cortes

Joining TSSA T: 020 7529 8032 F: 020 7383 0656 E: join@tssa.org.uk Your membership details T: 020 7529 8018 E: details@tssa.org.uk Helpdesk (workplace rights advice for members) T: 0800 3282673 (UK) 1800 805 272 (Rep of Ireland) Website www.tssa.org.uk (UK) www.tssa.ie (Ireland) @TSSAunion facebook.com/TSSAunion TSSA Journal Editor: Ben Soffa E: journal@tssa.org.uk T: 020 7529 8055 M: 07809 583020

20-21 The Caravan for Climate Jobs, campaigning for the creation of a million green jobs visited TSSA Conference

General queries (London office) T: 020 7387 2101 F: 020 7383 0656 E: enquiries@tssa.org.uk Irish office from Northern Ireland T: +3531 8743467 F: +3531 8745662 from the Republic T: 01 8743467 F: 01 8745622 E: enquiries@tssa.ie TSSA Journal is published

by TSSA, Walkden House 10 Melton Street London NW1 2EJ Design and production: Wild Strawberry Communications www.wildstrawberry.uk.com

4–9 News and campaigns u Action for Rail launched

u Equal pay advance at Network Rail u Save London Transport museum u Take the Olympic Pledge

8–9 Thomas Cook

u Members speak out to defend terms

10–13 Better Rail Views published in the Journal are not necessarily those of TSSA. Acceptance of adverts for products or services does not imply TSSA endorsement.

TSSA Journal is printed by TU Ink on Leipa Ultra Silk comprised of 100% post-consumer waste. The polythene wrapper is oxo-degradable.

Vol 108/issue 1222

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June 2012

u Join TSSA’s major new campaign for all our futures

19 General secretary’s comment 20-21 TSSA Conference 2012 22–23 Our rights at work under attack

Delegates link arms to sing Auld Lang Syne at the conclusion of a highly successful Annual Conference

editorial

6 Ryan, aged seven, came to TSSA’s stall wanting to be an engine driver but left convinced a career in TSSA-organised role was the way forward… well maybe.

24–27 Comment

u Christian Wolmar on fares and ticketing

u Paul Salveson on the record of rail devolution

28-29 Help & advice 30 Elections 31 Learning

10-13 TSSA’s Better Rail has got off to a great start, including this campaign stall at the National Railway Museum’s Railfest

TSSA Conference, held in a (mostly) sunny Cardiff saw a fresh lineup on the platform, with a new President, a new Treasurer and a new General Secretary responding to and leading debates. But it wasn’t just a few faces that had changed. Many delegates remarked on the sense of unity that has characterised our internal democracy over the last few months. That doesn’t mean that debate and honest disagreements have gone away, but that all involved are seeking a way through the not inconsiderable challenges facing us and our industries over the coming years in a comradely fashion.

In our article on Conference (p20-21) we report on the decisions made about how we plan to secure our own future, whilst on p10-13 we look at the successful launch of our campaign for a better future for the rail industry and the travelling public. And thinking even more widely, do get the date on p18 in your diaries – Saturday 20 October – when we hope to see the biggest TUC demo in years, looking to fight this failed austerity and build a future that works for the whole of society.

Closer to home, on p8-9 we look at the troubling news from Thomas Cook.

Members there are showing a great deal of tolerance whilst the company goes through difficult times, but are getting active and standing up against wholesale attacks on the travel concessions which form a vital part of the pay and benefits package for many lower paid staff.

We’re also trying something new in the centre spread of this month’s Journal with a pull-out poster. Even if only half the readers of the Journal took the step of finding a noticeboard – in work or beyond – where they can place the Better Rail message, it would be a great boost to the visibility of the campaign. Please think where you can use yours.

Ben Soffa, editor

28 Letters and Tolpuddle Festival

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news

Rail unions unite to launch Action for Rail campaign A NEW UMBRELLA campaign – Action for Rail: People before Profit – has recently been launched as a coalition of the four rail unions with the TUC. Its aim is to challenge the government drive towards even greater privatisation and fragmentation of Britain’s railway network.

The launch week in May involved union activists across the country working together to get the message out to the travelling public of the threat posed by government plans. Thousands of new postcards enabling passengers to lobby their MP were handed out to commuters at railway stations. The postcard called on MPs to confirm their support for: l fair fares – an end to above inflation fare rises l guards and catering staff on trains l keeping ticket offices open and staffing our stations l investment in trains with seats for all l no privatisation or break-up of Network Rail l a publicly owned railway that puts people before profit.

TSSA community organiser Sam Tarry with Polly Billington – chief adviser to Ed Miliband and Labour’s candidate to be Thurrock’s next MP

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TSSA’s national organiser (South) John Page with the RMT’s Bob Crow, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber and ASLEF’s vice president Tosh McDonald

The campaign is also demanding that the government avoid future repeats of last year’s Bombardier contract fiasco and commit to proactively supporting the British train manufacturing industry.

Over a dozen public meetings were organised. At the Bristol rally, newlyelected TSSA Executive Committee member Bill Monteith told the audience: ‘This is a fight that affects everybody – we need to wake up to that fact.’

At the meeting in Birmingham, discussion centred on how local communities could fight back against plans that would lead to London Midland shutting or reducing the opening hours at 87 out of its 90 station ticket offices.

At Southend, the president of the local trades council kick-started a debate on what campaign tactics campaigners should use to defeat the government’s agenda for the railway. It also heard about TSSA’s pioneering work earlier this year as

part of the FareFail campaign and agreed to take part in future actions.

As part of its Better Rail campaign, TSSA is encouraging all members to get active with Action for Rail and see off the threat to the future of our railway. The Government has made clear that they won’t be taking their damaging changes to Parliament for democratic approval, which would lead to a national public debate. Instead, service cuts and privatisation are to be arranged behind closed doors, in the secrecy of franchise negotiations. This leaves it up to trade unions and the communities our railways serve to make our opposition clear and defeat these plans.7

i Take part in Action for Rail

l To get involved and lobby your MP see

www.actionforrail.org l To order copies of the postcard for your branch or workplace, email campaigns@tssa.org.uk

news

WOMEN MEMBERS WORKING for Network Rail have secured a significant victory in the fight for fair and equal pay, with the employer agreeing to a joint review of pay and grading to be carried out with TSSA. Over the past few months a magnificent response to the previously reported rolespecific pay surveys has revealed a shocking two-tier system. Female staff in management roles earn on average £4,500 less than men doing similar jobs, with the gap as high as £10,000 a year in some cases.

Since being presented with our evidence and receiving the first batches of equal pay claims, Network Rail has given TSSA a commitment to carry out a joint review of management pay. The review will aim to create a fair and transparent pay and grading structure based on a fully job evaluated system.

The survey resulted in a total of 26 equal pay claims being submitted on behalf of women managers. Further claims are anticipated from amongst the results of the

nine surveys undertaken, but Network Rail’s recent commitment to begin a joint review has resulted in the process being suspended to allow us to focus on exploring this route towards a fair settlement. As we go to press, all outstanding survey respondents (both male and female) are being contacted and given the opportunity to pursue claims.

Campaign co-ordinator Jerry Wines told the Journal: ‘Every manager working for Network Rail owes a huge debt of thanks to the 26 women who’ve been brave enough to submit claims and help break the deadlock.

‘Their courage and commitment has been pivotal in persuading Network Rail that they do have a serious problem with their pay and grading structure, when only six months ago the company were resolutely in denial about it. There’s still a long way to go, but Network Rail’s commitment to a joint review represents a sea change that hardly seemed possible this time last year.’

Discussions are currently

CC BY-NC-ND 2 Kevin R Boyd

Huge gender pay gap forces Network Rail to concede review of management pay

Robert Stephenson – outside Network Rail HQ – unamused at the millions the claim may cost the organisation

taking place on the details of the review process, but Network Rail are proposing to complete the joint review and job evaluation phase over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, we’re building a network of members to help us take our

equality agenda forwards in Network Rail. 7

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If you work for Network Rail and are interested in hearing more, please email Jerry Wines at winesj@tssa.org.uk.

Millions of pounds won for members this year OVER THE PAST year a total of £4.5 million has been won for members through legal action taken

by Morrish Solicitors and underwritten by TSSA. Maintaining its unstinting support of members in bringing cases to employment tribunals, TSSA has for the second year in a row recovered in excess of £3 million. In the last year £3,215,734 was recovered for members. This brings the seven year total to £20,659,853.

Successful personal injury claims resulted in settlements of over £1,270,00. The increasing success of TSSA’s legal team is shown by comparing this to the £3.4 million reclaimed over the last seven years. l If you want to discuss your circumstances with Morrish, see p28 for their details.7

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Save London Transport Museum TSSA HAS JOINED with others to launch a campaign to defend the London Transport Museum, after members there raised the alarm about its future.

Transport for London is cutting its grant to the Museum by 25 per cent.

This amounts to a £1.5 million a year reduction in income. On top of that, as a result of the Government’s austerity measures, vital Arts Council funding has dried up, meaning a number of important community outreach and education posts are being lost.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, TV presenter Tony Robinson, and transport commentator Christian Wolmar recently publicised the campaign via a letter in the Guardian.

The letter highlighted the threat to jobs

CC BY-NC-ND 2 CarolineLD

news

and educational projects posed by these cuts as well as drawing attention to the recent hike in the museum’s entrance fee.

In his letter of response (also published in the Guardian), Vernon Everitt, TfL’s managing director of Marketing and Communications failed to rule out cuts to the museum’s school visits programme or further increases in the entrance fee, thus jeopardising access for many poorer Londoners.

All of the exhibits in the London Transport Museum are owned by Transport for London, which is now threatening the very future of the Museum. London has one of the oldest and largest public transport systems in the world – something worth

celebrating loudly. Over many years the Museum has enabled hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren to learn about public transport and transport safety. As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Underground next year, this unique and valuable part of London’s heritage should be treasured and preserved, not squandered.

To see the full text of the letter – and to add your support to our campaign, visit the Facebook page ‘Save London Transport Museum’ and share it with your friends and colleagues. 7

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To get involved in the campaign to save the museum, contact Mel Taylor, TSSA organiser: taylorm@tssa.org.uk or call 0773 819 5127.

TSSA Shines at Railfest TENS OF THOUSANDS of people visited the National Railway Museum’s ‘Railfest’ in early June, with many visiting the TSSA stand, staffed by local members and

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supporters. Organiser Steve Coe was delighted with the response: ‘At times we had more people visiting our stand than were at all the surrounding trade stands!

A number of RMT and ASLEF members visited our stall and congratulated us on what we were doing. A party of retired rail workers who had all been members of TSSA were delighted and proud to see us at Railfest’.

The presence also paid dividends in terms of recruitment: ‘Several membership forms were taken including two from graduates just joining the rail industry’.

The main objective of the stand was to promote the TUC’s ‘Action for Rail’

campaign. In addition, hundreds of TSSA-produced cards opposing the de-staffing of stations were given out. Unsurprisingly, not one person thought that reducing station staff was a good idea.

Several campaign groups and rail users’ organisations visited the stall and were supportive of our campaign.

Scores of visitors said they would write to their MP about McNulty and Government proposals to cut rail staff at stations.7

CC BY-NC-ND 2 Diamond Geezer

news

e g d e l P c i p m y l O e h t e k a T THE OLYMPIC GAMES is the world’s largest sporting event. Around 10,500 athletes from more than 200 nations will compete in 26 different sports. Over the 16 days of competition it is expected that there will be approximately 7.9 million spectators.

A further 4,000 athletes from around 150 countries will take part in 19 different sports during the Paralympic Games.

During the 11 days of this event nearly 1.5 million spectators will need transport around London and the UK. London 2012 has been heralded as a ‘public transport Games’. All ticketed spectators are expected to travel on public transport, to walk or cycle, or use park and ride services. Staff working for TfL, London Underground, Network Rail and train and bus operating companies will therefore play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the Games.

Many TSSA members have already been working hard to help prepare London’s public transport services for London 2012, and many more are now preparing to play a frontline role. Negotiations on Olympic pay deals have been taking place for over a year. We have reached agreements with many employers including Network Rail, London Underground and London Overground, but we have still to reach a settlement with Transport for London and Tube Lines. Both of these companies are expecting their staff to volunteer to work during the Olympics with little or no reward, whilst equivalent staff in LU and

LOROL will receive a minimum payment of £500. This situation is clearly unjust.

We want the Games to be a success.

We also want to ensure that our members, and all staff, get the recognition and support that they deserve during the Olympics and that, if there are problems, staff don’t get the blame for a lack of planning or organisation by employers.

TSSA is launching our Olympic Pledge campaign, which will celebrate the role of our members in delivering a ‘public transport Games’. The pledge asks TSSA

TSSA’s new mobile app is currently in development

members to make the following commitment to the travelling public: ‘Ask us if you need help or assistance. We pledge to do our best to help.’

In return, we will ask the public to treat staff working on public transport with dignity and respect. And more than that, we’re asking them to pledge their support for a properly funded and integrated public transport system; not just during the Olympics, but for the future.

We’re also challenging those employers who are failing to plan or to properly support their staff. The Employers’ Pledge will demand that our members receive fair financial reward, and that they are working in a safe environment, with proper training, and have the resources and support they will need to carry out challenging roles.

A key part of the Olympic Pledge campaign will be the launch of TSSA’s own phone app in mid-July. This will include a ‘Survival Guide’ to 2012, both for members and the public, as well as live updates and feeds on public transport in and around London. The app will give members and the public an opportunity to share pictures and comments with other users, and to sign up to the pledges. 7 . i If you want to know more, or want to get involved in our Olympic Pledge campaign, email: olympicpledge@tssa.org.uk or call Mel Taylor, organiser, on 0773 819 5127.

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Thomas Cook

CC BY Ell Brown

After working in ‘I am disgusted. y for 18 years, the travel industr oks I would now 11 of them for Co re stacking actually earn mo rmarket. I shelves in a supe the low pay as always accepted de up my wages. our discounts ma es stopping all Are the big boss ents? Cooks are their bonus paym tive to be loyal giving us no incen are being to them when we .’ treated so poorly

Thomas Cook staff speak out In April Thomas Cook announced that as well as a 0 per cent pay award, they were going to slash the longstanding concessions on travel available to staff.

With many workers on low wages, concessionary travel was a major benefit allowing staff to book family holidays at preferential discounted rates. Everyone knows that Thomas Cook are facing a tough time, with the recession and the government’s damaging austerity programme meaning people are spending less on their holidays. But for many staff, the nil pay award and the withdrawal of concessionary travel is plain insulting.

Why is concessionary travel so important? Well, for many staff – especially those with young families – the ability to book a family holiday at reduced

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rates meant that staying with Thomas Cook makes up for the otherwise low pay.

For others, particularly younger workers, the ability to travel – and then to share the knowledge and experience with customers – makes the job significantly more exciting and rewarding. Being able to discuss different types of holidays with customers on the basis of personal experiences is exactly the sort of staff development opportunity that Thomas Cook should be seeking out as it attempts to differentiate itself from the experience offered by online travel sites.

TSSA members in Thomas Cook are not lying down. They are determined to generate enough pressure to reinstate the benefits that have been withdrawn – or at the very least gain alternative benefits of similar value.

‘I have worked fo r Thomas Cook for over 23 years. Having travel perks take n away would greatly affect me as a lone parent of three children. The 48 hour concessio n cannot be taken at peak tim es, so is of no use to familie s who need to use it during scho ol holidays.’

Over 400 shop staff – some of them not previously TSSA members – have signed up to a petition seeking the reinstatement of the concessions and an agreement for pay talks.

After pressure from the TSSA, the company has now agreed to talks in which TSSA are seeking restoration of the concessions, an equivalent package, or at the very least an agreement that the suspension of the concessions will be time-limited during the company’s current financial difficulties and will be reinstated afterwards.

If you are a TSSA member at Thomas Cook, please help us by spreading the word on this campaign and making sure Management understand how widely and deeply felt concern is over this issue.

Thomas Cook Hands off our concessions The TSSA will be holding regional meetings and campaign forums where members of staff can discuss how we take the campaign forward. Your reps would like to involve as many people as possible – including non-members – so do get the message out there that everyone in Thomas Cook is welcome.

We aim to visit as may areas of the business as possible, showing how members right across the firm are appalled at Thomas Cook’s proposals.

We will initially be visiting Thomas Cook shops in London and Scotland in June and July and then working our way around the rest of the UK over the coming months. We’d like all members wanting to get involved or who are interested in TSSA visiting your area to get in touch with your regional organiser or rep – and if there’s no rep in your area, then why not become one? Full training and support can be provided. This is a key time for us all to unite and support each other – so please do get involved.

We would also like to say a big thank you to all who have signed the petition and commented so far. We don’t need to knock Thomas Cook through the media – the truth is, they are doing a good job of that themselves. All we need to do is send the message to Thomas Cook management that this issue will not be going away.

What is the Living Wage?

The Living Wage is an hourly rate calculated according to the basic cost of living, set independently and updated annually. It is the wage you would need to earn to live above poverty line assuming that you work 40 hours per week.

In London the rate of £8.30 an hour is calculated by the Greater London Authority. The national rate is £7.20 per hour and is calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy. This contrasts with the National Minimum Wage, which is currently a mere £6.08.

CC BY Ell Brown

A Living Wage campaign for the travel trade The TSSA demands a halt to poverty pay in the travel trade. As the recession bites, staff in the travel trade are facing cut backs, and pressure on their terms and conditions. On top of this, because people are changing the way they buy holidays, the system of commission is increasingly failing to reward front line staff.

When the commission system was introduced, nearly everyone walked into a shop and were sold a holiday which they bought there and then. But today, lots of people will visit a shop, collect all the information, ask lots of questions from experienced staff, then reach a final decision and book from home. If they book online no-one gets commission, if they book on the phone, the tele-worker gets it, and the shop worker gets nothing.

Of course this would not matter too much if shop workers in the travel trade were not forced to rely on commission to make ends meet. However, for large numbers of people in the travel trade, their basic pay is either the legal minimum wage or slightly above. This is where the campaign for a ‘living wage’ is so important.

‘I have been with Thom as Cook for the past 18 years . It’s the loyal staff who have consistently performed only for the m now to be penalised. My salary is less today than it was thr ee years ago as they have cut our incentives as well. Th ey have frozen our pay increa se, taken away our shift conces sions and reduced our incentives by 50 per cent. I am disgusted at the way we are being treated.’

The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Even Boris Johnson, not someone we normally quote positively in the Journal has said: ‘Paying the London Living Wage is not only morally right but it also makes good business sense … paying decent wages reduces staff turnover and produces a more motivated and productive workforce’.

Shockingly, almost 40 per cent of part time workers in London earn less than the Living Wage. This means that their families risk living in poverty, with government benefits subsidising employers’ profits – allowing them to pay low wages rather than cover the basic life costs of their employees.

Good for business In London more than 80 per cent of employers who had implemented a Living Wage agreement believe that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of the work of their staff, while absenteeism had fallen by approximately 25 per cent. Two thirds of employers reported a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation.

Winning the Living Wage for the travel trade While trade unions have been instrumental in winning Living Wage agreements, they have not done so on their own. Those people on low wages are not there by accident, they are there because they lack the ‘economic muscle’ to force their employer to pay more.

Often employers fear that paying a Living Wage will undercut their competitiveness. That is why campaigns have sought to cover a whole sector (such as cleaning contractors) and have mobilised leverage from outside the workplace.

Over the coming months we will be working with our members and their communities to build Living Wage coalitions designed to create the necessary leverage to win a Living Wage across the travel trade sector. 7

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If you want to be part of this initiative, then sign up at www.tssa.org.uk/livingwagesurvey.

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Better Rail TSSA’s Better Rail campaign hit the ground running, with actions across the rail network. Campaign co-ordinator Nadine Rae reports.

Conference delegates leaflet commuters at Cardiff Queen Street

Better Rail: Action, action and more action Better Rail launched with a bang at TSSA conference in May. Since then members have been keeping the pressure on, holding actions every week to get the word out to fellow rail workers and the public. The message is simple – we want to make our railway better and we are prepared to fight for it.

Better Rail is TSSA’s campaign in support of our vision for the future of rail.

A better railway is one that is a quality public service and accessible to all, safe, affordable and one that is accountable to the public. As the government continues to drive cuts throughout our railway, TSSA members are rising to the challenge by getting active in their workplaces and communities.

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TSSA Conference takes first of many actions to launch Better Rail Better Rail was launched firstly at conference in May, with a further six weeks of action planned to launch the campaign within our workplaces. Over these weeks members have shared with us their thoughts on the Better Rail campaigns for: l A quality public service – including the need to keep staff at stations for face-toface service l Safety – a railway that is safe to work on, safe to travel on l Fares – a railway affordable for all l Community – working with community allies and supporters to make our railway accountable to the public.

Each week we have focussed on one

TOC or community action to launch Better Rail, including workplace visits at c2c, Southeastern and Virgin, in addition to community stalls and taking part in joint-union postcard actions across the country.

At the TSSA Conference in Cardiff executive committee member Steven Leggett spoke to delegates about the need for us to unite and take action. In a call to action, Steve spoke of past campaigns to save jobs that he’d been involved in: members got together and collected thousands of signatures against job cuts. With their strong show of unity and high level of outreach to the public, the majority of jobs were saved. A victory for TSSA members and community.

Better Rail ‘A better rail system is in everyone’s best interests. Rail is better for the environment. Even for those travelling by car, rail relieves traffic congestion. But change is not going to happen by sitting back. We all need to get active and involved in our Better Rail campaign to protect our jobs and to maintain and improve services to customers.’

Southeastern gets active in Better Rail

Steve Leggett led visits to Southeastern workplaces to launch Better Rail. ‘Both Staff and customers deserve a better railway than we have at the moment.

Better Rail gives us hope, but we all need to participate, make our campaign live and win.’

Since the launch of Better Rail, Southeastern Metro branch have led their members in workplace visits and postcard actions, both for Better Rail and in support of the TUC’s new joint union rail campaign, Action for Rail.

c2c gets active to fight for safer and Better Rail Since late last year, our workplace reps have been focussing on building an active visible TSSA union in c2c. The results are showing, and as membership increases workers are showing their support for a TSSA that focusses on building a better railway and a better future. As part of the Better Rail campaign launch our workplace representatives visited a range of sites across the company to talk to workers about Better Rail. Serious issues around safety are top of people’s minds, especially following the stabbing of a Revenue Protection Inspector last year and a pilot

of open-plan ticket offices which decrease the physical precautions which currently limit the risks to staff. Open-plan offices will lack protective glass, leaving ticket office staff members more vulnerable to violent crimes such as robbery or assault.

Reps Mary and Louise shared with us their thoughts on what will make a better railway, see panel right and for Louise, page 12..

Government proposals to cut ticket office and station staff jobs threaten to leave more station unstaffed stations and increase instances of lone working.

Of course cutting station staff will also mean a lower level of safety for passengers. Louise Williams, c2c workplace representative explains ‘People feel safer when there are staff present. Often passangers say to me there should be more staff on at ticket offices as well as until later in the evening.’

TSSA’s postcard survey action has given passengers the opportunity to share their thoughts about staff cuts and safety.

‘Please don’t cut the railway staff, they are massively valued and keep us safe.’

Judith, mostly uses Cardiff Central station ‘Cutting station staff would be a big mistake. What has possessed them to want to do that? If anything for the fares we pay, we need more staff helping.’

Constance, mostly uses Chelmsford station ‘The staff at Cooden Beach and Bexhill are always so helpful. When there are no staff you feel quite vulnerable. I was at St Leonards Walker Square late one night changing trains – no staff to be seen and groups of youths hanging around – not nice! If there are no staff, the waiting room is closed.’

Anonymous, mostly uses Cooden Beach (East Sussex) ‘Single women need to feel secure and safe on public transport. Why charge them more just so that they feel scared?’

E Sagar, mostly uses Hackney Central We want to hear your stories of safety on the job. Send us your stories to betterrail@tssa.org.uk or #saferrail on twitter.

We need Safer Rail

Mary Sithole, Company Council and health and safety rep

Mary is a TSSA workplace representative for c2c. She works in a ticket office selling tickets, processing refunds and providing a face to face service to customers who need information on their journeys. Mary has been working in rail since February 2000. Her role as a Company Council and health and safety representative supports the work of our Better Rail campaign to make rail safe to work on and safe for the travelling public.

Issues of safety are a major concern given the cuts government want to see across the railways. A key issue for c2c staff is the move towards open-plan ticket offices, with no security glass. This is a trend seen in European railways, but where this is happening in the UK workers feel they are not being given adequate answers as to how their security will be assured.

‘Sometimes we face aggressive customers, so there is concern about safety once the glass is removed.’

Instances of aggression reported by TSSA members in ticket offices include verbal abuse, spitting and having objects thrown at staff. ‘Staff are supposed to report verbal abuse, but often feel it’s pointless. We believe we can still provide good interactive customer service with the glass, as we have always done.’

If you have stories on safety to share, get in touch or tell us on Twitter via #saferrail.

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Better rail Machines can't replace humans Louise has been working in the railway for 18 years. She currently works in a ticket office. One of the changes over that time is the move towards cutting staff in favour of ticket machines, which Louise thinks do not strengthen the idea of rail as a quality public service. ‘Often you can see a long queue at the ticket window and no-one wanting to use the machine!’ In her experience, machines do not always reduce the face to face service time a customer needs. ‘More people are buying tickets from the web or machines, but then they come to us at the ticket office and ask ‘can you please go through these tickets with me?’.

Often we realise they were actually entitled to a cheaper ticket that they had no way of knowing about.’

Louise Williams, c2c workplace representative

Railfest 2012

Rep Mary Sithole believes the cuts proposed by Government will not make a better railway. ‘The government proposals will make things worse across the railways in general. Less staff will mean elderly passengers will not get the support they need to plan their journeys in advance. Where government proposals cause ticket offices to close or have their hours reduced, passengers will be forced to use ticket machines or online options’.

Mary explains that the ticket machines do not provide advanced tickets, only same day tickets. Therefore even for those passengers who are happy using the machines, they have to rely on the face to face support provided by their ticket office staff if they want to buy tickets days in advance and make their travelling easier. Ticket machines also don’t provide the full range of services, for example, the purchase and renewal of rail cards are only available from staffed ticket offices.

Its not only passengers who are not getting the best value for money. Whilst the government see cutting ticket office as a way to make the railways more cost effective, Mary explains how some passengers will be able to travel without paying any fare at all.

‘With reduced ticket office and station staff, there will be fewer people to gather revenue from fares. Where a ticket office is shut, passengers may often need to buy their ticket at the end of the journey. Staff there aren’t able to verify where the passenger got on the train, so there are passengers even now who end up travelling without paying, or paying less than they should. Increasingly, fare paying passengers will be left wondering why they should continue to bother to pay?’

Mary is clear on what she thinks will make a better railway. ‘If things were harmonised in terms of fares and the way things are processed we would have a better railway. Passengers don’t care about which TOC they are travelling on, they only care about there being a train to get them there. When we explain that our tickets or process is different to the other TOCs, this has in the past led to customers having arguments with our staff.’

Better Rail is campaigning for a quality public service with staff at stations and affordable fares. 7

i Share your thoughts on what will make

a better railway on www.tssa. org.uk/better-rail-ideas or #betterrail.

Virgin staff get active for Better Rail Better Jobs are secure jobs Job security is a huge issue for Virgin workers. Members report they feel they could lose their job at any time, especially with industry rumours about massive job cuts after the Olympics. Currently in a short-term extension to their franchise, Virgin will be under pressure to reduce staffing numbers.

As part of the Better Rail launch we are talking to Virgin workers about their job security. If you are a member at Virgin and have a story to share or if you want to support colleagues in their fight for better jobs go to www.tssa.org.uk/better-rail.

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Better rail

Get active in the fight for a better railway In the past six weeks over 50 campaign sessions have been held – but we still need you to help us plan many more! To find out what is happening or for ideas on what you could do to get active in the campaign, contact raen@tssa.org.uk.

Manjit Gill hosting a stall at his Gurdwara to reach out to the local Sikh community

Community – we’re getting active in our communities!

TOC Council Representative Manjit Gill has been a long-time active member of TSSA and is encouraging others to get active in Better Rail. His outreach to communities has led to over 1000 postcards being completed by passengers answering the question ‘What do you want in a station?’

TUC Action for Rail To win Better Rail we must work with community groups, passengers and other allies and supporters. As such, TSSA is fully involved in the TUC joint rail campaign ‘Action for Rail’.

During the Better Rail launch period we have held more than a dozen actions in support of the campaign. You can read more about the campaign on page 4 or visit www.actionforrail.org.

Railfest 2012 Our team in the North of England held a stall at Railfest 2012 for 10 days. Huge support was expressed for Better Rail, with hundreds of people signing our postcards or adding their names to our Better Rail contact list.

Community Organising Team Our Community Organising Team are working with reps and members to build our links within the wider community. If you are interested in talking to your MP or local councillor, or meeting with community groups on issues surrounding transport, our community Organising Team can help with training, preparations and materials to support your initiatives. For ideas visit www.togetherfor transport.org.uk or contact Rob Jenks on jenksr@tssa.org.uk.

Paul Sloane completed over 50 stations survey cards as well as more than a dozen Action for Rail cards in his visit to affected station, Totnes, in south Devon

You can get active in the fight for a better railway by: l Collecting postcards surveys from your friends, family, workmates see www.tssa.org.uk/pledge for more details. l Inviting a Better Rail team member to a workplace or TSSA branch meeting, contact raen@tssa.org.uk. l Joining others in an action to hand out postcards or leaflets.

Contact your local rep or email raen@tssa.org.uk to find out what’s happening in your area. l Lobbying your MP or local councillor. l Meeting with a local community group, passenger group, disabled persons group, etc, to talk about our campaign. l Telling us what you think will make a better railway www.tssa.org.uk/better-rail-ideas.

TSSA Journal

13

news

‘Join online’ brings in new members SINCE ITS LAUNCH late last year, the ‘join online’ function of the TSSA website has been a huge success, with most new members choosing to join via the web. It will bring in hundreds of extra members with an ongoing commitment to pay via DirectDebit, whilst at the same time reducing processing overheads at TSSA HQ. Despite ‘join online’ contributing to a year-on-year increase in new members, total membership continues to decline due to the larger numbers leaving the Association through retirement, redundancy and other factors.

TSSA membership officer

John Smith said: ‘With join on line we can reach groups of potential members that are hard to reach in person – home workers and outbased workers. With future targeted campaigns we hope to grow the number and mix of those who have been underrepresented in traditional recruitment. There is much we can do from Walkden House, but the real driver of recruitment both on- and offline are members speaking to their workplace colleagues.’

Where online joining has really come into its own has been during targeting recruitment campaigns, such as that recently undertaken at Amey Consulting. Senior Regional Organiser Alan Valentine takes up the story: ‘During the Amey Consulting collective bargaining campaign, join online played a key part in the final push to ensure we had recruited the 40 per cent + 1 members needed to enable success.

Reps and activists had an

Black members fighting for justice TSSA WAS WELL represented at TUC Black Workers’ Conference by three first time delegates: Steve Haskins, Gurchet Singh Jutla and Angella Palmer. Gurchet Singh Jutla told the Journal ‘The highlight for me was Doreen Lawrence’s speech on her fight for justice for her son. It was really difficult to listen to Janet

Alder talk about the case of her brother Christopher – a former Army paratrooper – who died in police custody. I also found the fringe meeting from both the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Campaigns very interesting. Meeting so many other delegates was a very good experience for me.’7

Steve Haskins, Angella Palmer and Gurchet Singh Jutla

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June 2012

agreement with the company for a three month window which allowed unprecedented access to staff including access to workplace meetings and three emails sent via the company system.’

‘During the last phase of the campaign, where most of the workplace meetings had already taken place, links to join online were supplied in the emails to staff. As there was a significant proportion of homeworkers, this was a huge boost in enabling us to reach them, which allowed us to get the final joiners needed to surpass our target.’

Will you email five of your colleagues the link to www.tssa.org.uk/join encouraging them to join?7

TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference 2012 PETER AMOS AND Rod Payne were the TSSA delegation to this year’s TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference. As well as TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, the conference was addressed by John McDonnell MP and Lord Low of Dalston. Rod told the Journal, ‘There were two threads which linked many of the debates: one occasioned by Government plans to close down many Remploy factories and the other, very much related to it, but driven by the much wider issue of attacks on all aspects of the Welfare State. There was a strong call for solidarity with those resisting and fighting back against such proposals wherever they arise. This obviously rings bells in respect of our own community campaigns.’

Rod continued, ‘17 motions were debated and carried, as well as three emergency motions, one of which was seconded by us. This motion, which was submitted by our colleagues in the RMT, related to government proposals to change the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. It also received supporting speeches from POA, NASUWT and Unite.’ 7

Better Rail

No workplace noticeboard is complete without this Better Rail poster!

Cutting station staff will make rail WORSE .uk/better-rail www.tssa.org

www.tssa.org .uk/bett

WE NEED TO be as visible as possible in our workplaces, so people understand what TSSA stands for and what we are trying to achieve. That’s why we have included your very own Better Rail workplace poster in this month’s journal. l Carefully lift the staple ‘fingers’ in your journal l Pull out your poster l Press the staple fingers back into place l Put it up on your noticeboard at work You can download other posters, including ones with space for your own message from www.tssa.org.uk/better-rail or contact Nadine Rae on raen@tssa.org.uk to get more posters for your workplace.

We’re standing up for passengers tter-rail

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www.tssa.org.

uk/better-rail

.uk/bett www.tssa.org

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e .org.uk/b ww.tssa

!

I’m a concerne d p assenger

www.tssa.org.uk/better-rail

er-rail

We’re fighting for a bet ter railway

www.ts sa.org

.uk/bett er-rail

TSSA Journal

15

general secretary Manuel Cortes

Conference sets our direction ‘We hope RMT will agree to create a federation open to other similar sized transport unions.’

‘Over the next few months, I look forward to gathering your views through a series of regional meetings.’

comment

Last month, we held our 115th Annual Delegate Conference. This gives you, the ordinary rank and file member, the chance to set your union’s strategic priorities and direction. Our gathering in Cardiff was an extremely successful and unifying event. Of course the backdrop for this year’s Conference was hardly encouraging – the recommendations of the McNulty Review will lead to large scale job losses if they are implemented in full and working people across Europe are suffering immense pain as a result of unrelenting austerity. As always, delegates aired their views and voted to decide what our priorities should be for the coming year. If you have never attended Conference, please seriously consider coming along to next year’s gathering in Glasgow. Ordinary members are the lifeblood of our democratic process and your involvement is both immensely welcomed and needed!

Of course, Conference doesn't just deal with your ‘bread and butter’ issues. It also carefully looks at the immediate challenges facing your union’s ability to effectively fight your corner.

As you are probably aware, our merger talks with our sister union the RMT recently came to an end. We hope that the RMT’s Annual General Meeting will agree to our proposal to create a federation that will be open to other similar sized transport unions. If this is not the case, we will continue to seek suitable strategic partners to ensure that your collective voice is protected long into the future. However, even if talks with other unions do progress, we need to continue to be in control of our destiny. This means reviewing everything that we do to ensure that as an organisation we are fit for purpose. This will almost undoubtedly require step-changes in the way that we do things. In the medium-term, it is almost inescapable that we form part of a new union through a merger.

Yet we simply can’t afford to sit around waiting for this to happen. Employers will not pause in their efforts to change your workplace to their advantage. To protect you, we need to be one step ahead of them!

It is hard to overstate the urgency and the boldness of the changes that are needed. This is not just an issue for TSSA but for our movement as a whole. In the past three decades, union membership has halved and the percentage of workers in unions is continuing to fall. Workplaces covered by collective bargaining are rapidly shrinking and there is a real danger that the whole idea of collective agreements becomes a thing of the past. We are now also entering a period in which the Tory led coalition is planning a bonfire of workplace rights. The Government is using the economic crisis as an excuse to further attack working people and their trade unions. Put simply, to continue to do what we have always done – whilst expecting different results – just borders on lunacy. As a movement, we need to be creative to reach out to the many millions who are not trade union members. We need to capture their imagination and commitment towards creating a fairer society. If we fail, we will be the first generation of trade unionists that passes something to the next that is worse that what we inherited. So the stakes couldn’t be any higher!

To assist our renewal, we have over the past decade taken steps towards becoming a campaigning focused organisation. Huge progress has been made in this direction, but it is clear that this journey is far from over. We need to be continuously looking for catalysts that make our union more vibrant and dynamic. For example, our community based campaigning and our efforts to oppose McNulty’s recommendations are proving immensely popular with many of you. This is generating huge enthusiasm despite the many challenges that we face. This suggests that we have a real opportunity for further positive change. To facilitate this, I intend, over the next few months, to gather your views through a series of meetings. I hope that you will be able to attend the one closest to your locality and take this opportunity to let us know what future shape you wish your union to take. I very much looking forward to seeing you then. 7

TSSA Journal

19

c onferenc e

Democracy in action at Conference 2012

Delegates were enthused by plans for the Better Rail campaign

TSSA’s Annual Delegate Conference took place in Cardiff in mid May, with over 100 delegates, visitors and staff there for three days of debate and decisionmaking. Motions ranged from our own future through specifics of transport policy to issues of British, Irish and global society at large.

Describing the debate on the union’s strategy on alliances and partnerships as ‘probably the most important in living memory’, general secretary Manuel Cortes

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June 2012

explained to delegates why talks with the RMT had come to an end.

The key issue was over who would take industrial decisions – reps or an executive body of the whole membership – and the impact of this given the likely mix of members in a new union. The balance between elected and appointed officials and the equality impact this would have was another sticking point. Political affiliation was a further difference, but was not the dominant issue.

Conference approved a strategy with multiple tracks – for closer joint working, potentially through federations where possible – be that amongst transport unions or for specific approaches like community organising, whilst at the same time looking for partners from anywhere within the union movement who might wish to form a deeper link-up.

Manuel told conference, ‘I strongly value all the joint work we’ve done with RMT over the last eight years or so. This is why I have proposed to them that we

should form a proper federation, where we could share resources, share staff and in my view, that would be the first step towards creating a new union. It would allow us to learn from each other and build trust.’

He continued, ‘But I am glad the motion talks about holding discussions with other unions without qualification.

My preferred option remains to get a specialised transport union across all modes of transport, but if that is not possible, we have to wake up and smell the coffee.’

A further change in future years may be the introduction of differential membership subs. After gaining the approval of Conference this is to be explored by the Executive Committee who will come back to Conference with proposals in the future. Welcoming the motion, Manuel said ‘It can’t be right that we’ve got people on the minimum wage paying the same amount as some of our managers on six-figure salaries.’

conference

Carl Sargeant AM

What makes a Better Railway? Why not download and print a version of this poster and run this action locally.

Transport Policy Carl Sargeant AM, the Welsh Government Minister for Social Justice & Local Government – who also holds the transport brief – addressed conference.

As the only Labour administration in any of the nations of the UK, Carl spoke about how the Welsh government were ‘protecting public services, protecting jobs and protecting as much of the economy as we can.’

On transport, he came with a message that was warmly welcomed by delegates.

The minister talked about how, on the expiry of the current all-Wales franchise in 2018, ‘we are looking at introducing a not-for-dividend basis rail network in Wales. We’re doing that because we know that investment should go back into the industry and not into the pockets of the fat cats that are running these franchises. We aspire to have a ‘people’s railway’ in Wales.’ The potential for this to lay the groundwork for Labour across the UK to adopt this policy is clear.

Conference also narrowly voted for a policy critical of aspects of the route of HS2, fearing that the current route would push costs up to a level that damaged the chances of the vital link actually

being built. The motion reaffirmed TSSA’s commitment to high speed rail, noting the need to relieve pressure on classic lines, expand local and regional services and allow for an increase in the volume of freight on rail.

Pensions and rights at work Pensions were again a matter of major concern. The shift from RPI to the CPI measure of inflation for uplifting state pensions and benefits was described as a direct attack on those on low fixed incomes at a time when rent and the cost of living were rising steeply.

The attacks on rights at work (details on p22-23) came in for strong criticism – especially the £500 deposit for workers who want to access justice through employment tribunals. Conference called for an assurance from the Labour Party that it will reverse these attacks when it is next in government.

Wider society Conference also debated items where we can use our collective voice, either directly, through the wider union movement or by exerting pressure via our affiliation to the UK or Irish Labour parties for change. Conference strongly

passed a motion noting the growing housing emergency, with the changes to UK housing benefit especially impacting on the young and those on lower incomes. The motion called on Labour to oppose the ghettoisation that Tory policy will bring about and to instead adopt a policy of active intervention to meet the need for affordable housing.

Conference took a stand against the racist scapegoating of the travelling community, agreed to affiliate to the national anti-cuts group the Coalition of Resistance and highlight the horrors of human trafficking. Conference also commended the general secretary’s call to offer solidarity to Palestinians in their struggle against the impact of Israel’s illegal occupation of their land.

Onward to the future Delegates left conference in no doubt about the scale of the task facing us in many areas of struggle, but clear that the Association is well equipped with a policy platform and strategy that can take us forward. If you’d like to be part of Conference next year, do get involved with your branch and put your name forward. 7

‘We need to regroup as an organisation and as a movement. We have to fight these cuts that are going too far and too fast and hurting too many too much. The media talk about unions as though they were hotbeds of sedition, with all the power resting in one despot’s hands – but they are wrong – honestly Manuel – they are wrong. Unions are millions of working people speaking with one voice, acting in a democratic manner, and acting in a manner that is the big society.’

From President Harriet Yeo’s opening address

TSSA Journal

21

Our rights under attac k Val Stansfield, TSSA’s Employment Rights Adviser, looks at the changes to employment rights that the Government is trying to force through.

Threats to fairness at work The Government is currently consulting on a whole raft of changes to our rights at work – ‘reforms’ which include allowing some workers to be sacked for no specific reason, racking up charges for access to justice and doubling the time before which new employees gain protection from unfair dismissal.

Ministers see the changes as a core part of their attempts to revive the economy, arguing that a key reason for the recession is the difficulty of firing workers. Yet figures in one of Vince Cable’s own documents admit that the UK is already second only to the USA in terms of ‘ease of individual dismissal’ and that less than 1 per cent of employers say dismissal/ disciplinary action is the type of regulation that most puts them off employing staff.

Nevertheless, Coalition or not – what is happening is squarely out of the Thatcherite text book. Already some changes to individual employment rights have turned the clock back to the position when the Tories left office in 1997.

Worryingly, other changes have gone further, with a series of seemingly minor administrative alterations already made without legislation. From the documents coming out of the Department for Business, there looks to be much more – some of which is yet to be spelled out – to come in the future.

Changes so far Protection from bad employers only becomes real when there’s a way of enforcing the law. Sadly the first batch of changes have mostly focussed on restricting access to employment tribunals:

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June 2012

l Workers who joined an employer from April this year will not be allowed to claim for unfair dismissal for two years – however unfairly they were dismissed. The only exemptions are for discrimination, whistleblowing, highlighting health and safety flaws, trade union activities or for undertaking public duties. l Where either side is found to have behaved unreasonably or where a claim is itself misconceived, employment tribunals can now make orders for costs of up to £20,000 against those it finds at fault (up from £10,000). l If, before all the evidence has been heard, an early hearing thinks a claim has no reasonable chance of success, a claimant can be forced to pay a deposit of up to £1,000 (up from £500) for the case to continue. Unless they win, this money is kept by the government. l In ordinary unfair dismissal claims judges now sit alone, with no representatives from either bodies representing employers or unions.

Witnesses will no longer make oral statements, but can still be crossexamined whilst their expenses may be ordered to be paid by the worker or employer that called them. l For those in companies with under 250 employees, there will be no right to request time off for training. l The planned extension of the right to request flexible working for parents of children aged 17 has been scrapped.

YOU’D THIN TH E GOVERNMENT HAD BETTERKTH ATTACK YOUR RINGS TO DO THAN IGHTS

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Visit the website to find out more, been rumbled. and tell ministe rs they’ve VIS IT LOYMENTWRON GS.ORG.UK TO FIN D OUT MORE

WWW.STOP EMP

Yet to come – or perhaps not The most dangerous proposal put forward by the Government is the introduction of fees for Employment Tribunal claims.

Charging people to defend the rights the law supposedly grants them totally skews the scales of justice in favour of employers. It will also make it all but impossible for many workers who lack the protection of a union to access the tribunals system at all.

Consultation has taken place on two options for charging access fees for ET claims. While the cheaper option can, in theory, begin in April next year, the second one will involve a sliding scale of higher charges and will require new legislation in Parliament. This is

’The changes will make it all but impossible for many workers who lack the protection of a union to access employment tribunals.’

Our rights under attack “Charging people to defend the rights the law supposedly grants them totally skews the scales of justice in favour of employers.’ potentially the most serious proposal that will have the effect of stopping claims being submitted, although there is purportedly to be a system of fee waiver for the very low paid.

The first option will involve two charges, one to initiate the claim and one to have the case heard by the ET. The Government argues the changes will encourage early settlement of claims, and yet that cannot logically be the outcome.

If a claimant must pay anything from £250 to £1,750 merely to lodge a claim, employers will be less likely to settle, not more. Once the fees have been paid it is likely that the claimant will want their ‘day in court’ since they have already paid for it. The proposal is sure to be selfdefeating – and will have the effect of choking off valid claims due to inability to pay – something that would be contrary to Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Additionally, under the second option the Government is considering, higher value claims will have higher fees. The majority of higher value claims are discrimination cases, therefore charging higher fees will undoubtedly cause this to be challenged in the European Court, since discrimination claims are almost universally governed by EU Directives that prohibit bars on making claims or capping the level of compensation awards.

Another worrying aspect of the proposals is the suggestion of ‘no-fault dismissals’ where small firms – those with fewer than 10 employees can fire employees at will.

Other suggestions include ‘simplifying’ both dismissal processes and the drawing up of compromise agreements – but since the purpose of such agreements is to legally protect both parties, it is difficult to see how they could be simplified and continue to offer the protection both employers and workers need.

A further proposal is to introduce something called ‘protected conversations’. These would allow employers to discuss retirement or poor

performance with workers, the content of which would not be allowed to be included in an Employment Tribunal – specifically creating a loophole a mile wide. The potential for abusive employers to use this mechanism in a discriminatory way, knowing they could never be called to account for it is totally clear. So much so in fact, it is difficult to see how such conversations could be exlucded from a tribunal without contravening EU requirements. In any case there is existing provision for ‘without prejudice’ discussion to take place which serve exactly this purpose!

The Government are also suggesting a ‘rapid resolution’ scheme to offer a quicker alternative to tribunals for simpler cases, and also that all claimants should be offered ACAS conciliation before going to a tribunal. No bad idea in principle, but as a government-funded body ACAS is sharing in the devastating cuts imposed by this government, so it is not at all clear how they are expected to cope with the thousands of disputes that will come their way.

One further possibility is that

employers who break the rules in a way that has ‘aggravating features’ (not yet defined) may be hit with fines, separate from any compensation to the worker.

A view from the judiciary Sitting recently in the Court of Appeal, senior judge Lord Justice Mummery took the opportunity to set out his views on the state of the tribunal system. He noted the enormous amount of pressure on tribunals in these difficult economic times, pointing out that their case load has increased by over 50 per cent in just one year. He also noted that in every case, parties are entitled to expect that what they believe to be a good case will be dealt with justly, but that takes time, care and patience, as well as considerable practical experience and specialist knowledge. In sum, ‘it takes much longer than most people begin to appreciate to perform properly the most vital function in the whole civil justice and tribunal system’.

It seems from the words of his Lordship that the higher courts are not at one with the cost cutting aims of the Government. TSSA will continue to watch this space, to campaign against the changes, recruit members on the back of them, and report developments in future articles in your Journal. 7

Many of the Government’s proposals threaten to turn the clock back on our employment rights by decades, as highlighted in the recently launched TUC campaign.

TSSA Journal

23

Christian Wolmar Christian Wolmar takes a look at a perpetual bugbear for passengers and workers alike: the price and complexity of fares

Ticket(s) to ride?

Everyone knows that the fares system is a complete mess. No other product has such a complex pricing structure. Nor indeed, does any other railway in the world have such a maze of fares.

The reason for the complexity is, of course, buried in history and, oddly, has been made worse by the use of new technology. British Rail had a relatively simple set of fares, though it did begin to offer cheaper fares at off-peak times in order to boost load factors on little used services. So we got Savers (now called off-peak), but also, later, super off peak, whose use was more restricted.

Then with privatisation it got really complicated with the addition of many advanced tickets – a boon to many passengers of course, but adding another major ticket type to an already large range – and deals that were specific to a particular train company.

Add in season tickets, various occasional offers by train companies, and the fact that because fares are set by individual operators, it can often be

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June 2012

considerably cheaper to buy two separate tickets for a journey on one train, and you get one hell of a mess. There are other absurdities, too. A friend of mine found that it was much cheaper to buy a ticket from London to Holyhead for a connection onto the ferry to Ireland, than to Bangor which, of course, is a shorter journey.

‘... trying to buy tickets through the train operator websites can be as hard as the Times crossword.’

Under privatisation, too, we got regulated fares – off peak and season tickets – and unregulated fares – the rest. Of course most TSSA members are familiar with this range of tickets and can weave their way round the complexity.

But pity the poor passenger.

Organisations like Passenger Focus have long been campaigning for change and simplification. In response, the government has embarked on a fares review – about which little has been heard recently – and now the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), in a report published in early June, has picked up the cudgels on the part of passengers, focussing on the information provided to people buying tickets.

As an aside, this represents a departure for the ORR which has, until now, been mainly focussed on backroom issues such as the costs of Network Rail, rather than passenger-facing matters such as fares.

However, this is part of a shift – welcomed by some, but opposed by the Association of Train Operating Companies – towards the ORR taking an interest in the behaviour of train operators and responding to passenger complaints. In fact, there is something of a gap left by the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority, which had the role of franchising director, created at

Christian Wolmar privatisation, because the oversight of franchises by the department – which also lets them – has been less than thorough.

The ORR report highlights, amongst other issues, the inadequacy of Ticket Vending Machines in the face of this complexity. The truth is that TVMs are fine if people are buying standard straightforward tickets, but they are totally unsuited to coping with unusual demands. Moreover, even if they were made more sophisticated so that they could cope with a greater range of fares, people purchasing tickets from them would not be able to assess all the alternatives and therefore would become frustrated. Even an experienced rail traveller like me has, at times, found it difficult to assess what ticket is valid and therefore overpaid because of the lack of clarity. Moreover, TVMs cannot cope with advance tickets, season tickets of longer than a week and group tickets.

Nor is new technology the answer as, ironically it has added to the complexity.

We now have web-only fares as yet another type of ticket, and trying to buy tickets through the train operator websites can be as hard as the Times crossword.

So there is an irony here. In order to be able to close ticket offices to save money, the operators need to ensure the TVMs are more sophisticated, which requires considerable spending that may not

‘There is no silver bullet. The fares review is a waste of time as it is constrained by the present structure of franchises.’

prove worthwhile since, by definition, the more unusual fares are sold infrequently.

Therefore, the real answer is that they need to simplify the system which has grown in complexity precisely over their desire to maximise revenue. But they do not really want to do that since they claim that making the system simpler might well reduce the number of good deals for passengers.

While ministers muse about selling tickets in libraries and the train companies try to force everyone to use machines, the complexity of the system is a barrier to change for which there is no easy remedy. Setting out the problem of fares complexity is the easy bit.

Solving it is another matter especially as train fares are becoming something of a political hot potato. The annual rate of inflation in July is used as the determinant for the subsequent January fares rises. This will pose a dilemma for Justine Greening who last year reduced the rate to 1 per cent above inflation, which was still a 6 per cent rise. With the July figure likely to be around 3 per cent, a rise again of 6 per cent would be deeply

unpopular, especially given most people are not getting wage increases.

The fares review is supposed to be revenue neutral and therefore any attempt at rationalising the system is bound to lead to both winners and losers.

In truth, it would take a courageous and proactive government to rationalise the fares system on the basis of an overall cut, which is impossible in the present structure of franchises, as compensation would have to be paid. There is no silver bullet. The fares review is a waste of time as it is constrained by the present structure of franchises.

It would, in fact, be better for the operators to focus on the basics highlighted in the ORR report such as communicating information effectively to passengers and to do away with the punitive attitude towards passengers when they have forgotten their railcard or taken a slightly different train to the one on their ticket. 7

i Christian Wolmar’s latest book, The

Great Railway Revolution, the epic tale of the American railroad, has just been published by Amazon.

Follow @Christianwolmar or go to his website at www.christianwolmar.co.uk and sign up for his monthly newsletter.

Agree? Disagree? Email letters@tssa.org.uk or see the back cover for postal details.

Have Your Say on High Pay is a new campaign tackling excessive boardroom pay.

We all know that the chief executives of Britain’s biggest companies have enjoyed staggering pay rises in recent years while average wages have stagnated. Clearly rewards for failure at the top simply must be stopped.

Most people believe that we are powerless to do anything about it … but that simply isn’t the case!

Your pensions fund or Stocks & Shares ISA is a shareholder in Britain’s biggest companies and gets a vote on their pay packages.

FairPensions have developed an online action tool which allows you to contact your pension fund manager directly to tell them enough is enough.

Take action: www.fairpensions.org.uk/highpay

TSSA Journal

25

Paul Salveson Paul Salveson on how the railways of Scotland and Wales are beginning to diverge from the London-government’s course.

Devolution: is it good for rail?

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June 2012

The rebuilt Waverley line (solid blue) will include seven new stations, with potential for future re-opening (dashed line) through to Carlisle.

Eric Gaba, Share-alike license

The Government is currently consulting on plans to devolve responsibility for local and regional services to a more local level. It could involve giving the (mostly Labour-controlled) English transport authorities considerably greater powers over their rail network.

One possibility is that this could potentially include franchising responsibilities.

So how has devolution of rail worked so far? Scotland has full responsibility for the ScotRail franchise and Wales is certainly heading in that direction, with the franchise currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales due to expire in 2018.

The Scottish Government’s executive transport arm is Transport Scotland, which has many major achievements to its credit. It has promoted electrification and rail re-openings. The most notable achievement so far has been the reopening of the ‘missing link’ between Edinburgh and Glasgow, connecting up Bathgate with Airdrie and building three new stations. A new depot at Bathgate

has contributed to the creation of many new railway jobs. Electrification of the key Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk route is going ahead, together with routes between Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa.

Transport Scotland led on the 2008 re-opening of the Stirling to Alloa line which has proved a great success, with usage levels much higher than forecast.

The next major re-opening project is the Borders Line, with a key part of the old ‘Waverley’ route from Edinburgh to Carlisle coming back onto the railway map. Work has started on the Newcraighall to Galashiels and Tweedbank section which should see trains by December 2014. For the longer term,

campaigners want to see the railway continue to Hawick and on to Carlisle. It’s not just infrastructure. Transport Scotland has led the procurement of new rolling stock. The new class 380 electric multiple units – 38 sets in total – have transformed travel in the Strathclyde network. Transport Scotland recently announced a new £30m fund to upgrade – or re-open – stations. The fund would complement monies from other sources including developers and local authorities.

In Wales, the Labour-controlled Welsh Government does not – yet – have the same powers as its Scottish cousin, but development is still going ahead. There are ambitious plans to electrify the ‘Valley

Paul Sal veson ‘The Welsh Labour resolution represents a highly significant development in the politics of rail in the UK as a whole.’

Lines’ network serving the communities north of Cardiff as well as ensuring the main Great Western route between Cardiff and Swansea is wired, to tie-in with the electrification from London to Cardiff to be funded by the UK Government. Transport Minister Carl Sargeant recently said that ‘The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring a modern and efficient rail system for Wales. Electrification of railways in Wales will be critical to this. We are working closely with DfT to review the business case for electrification all the way through to Swansea, as well as developing the business case for Valleys Lines Electrification. The Transport Department is also looking at how best to take forward the commitment to pursue greater devolution of decision making to Wales to ensure that Welsh Government has greater influence over and accountability of the railways in Wales’.

The Welsh Government worked closely with the Department for Transport to ensure the re-opening of the Newport to Ebbw Vale line went ahead. Like StirlingAlloa, it has exceeded expectations and plans are well advanced to add a new branch to Abertillery. Recently, the Welsh Government invested £1.4m to provide enhanced services to Fishguard and funded a new station at Goodwick.

Perhaps the most exciting prospect opened up by devolution is the Welsh Labour Party’s vision of a ‘socially-owned’ railway, moving away from the current franchise model.

The Welsh Labour Party agreed a radical proposal, moved by Aslef and seconded by the Co-operative Party, at its recent annual conference. The resolution welcomed ‘Welsh Labour’s commitment to exploring options for running the Welsh franchise on a not-for-dividend

the North, is worried. ‘It seems to be trying to outdo the sort of draconian measures envisaged in the McNulty Report! I am particularly concerned about the proposal to break up the existing Scotrail franchise to allow operators to milk the profitable routes. Operators like Stagecoach – run by Brian Souter – who just happens to have donated £500,000 to the SNP!’ So what does all this mean for rail union activists in England? The impact of devolution on the Scottish and Welsh network has been highly positive. But much depends on who is in control of the devolved government. When Labour was the governing party in Scotland it promoted a range of investment projects including electrification, re-openings, new stations and rolling stock. Whilst the SNP claims to be supportive of Scotland’s railways, the practical effects of some of their current proposals could be disastrous. Meanwhile in Wales, the picture is much more encouraging with the possibility of the Welsh Government breaking the mould and opting for a socially-owned railway which gives priority to the needs of the community, not shareholders.

If a breakthrough could be made by the Welsh Government, why not Labourcontrolled transport authorities in England opting for a similar approach to the Northern franchise? 7

‘The SNP claims to be supportive of Scotland’s railways, but the practical effects of some of their proposals could be disastrous.’

BY-NC-ND 2 Andrew D Miller

Welsh Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant AM addressing this year’s TSSA Conference

basis as well as further devolution of rail policy and believes such a structure for rail operations has the potential to deliver genuine improvements to services by retaining profits and surpluses and investing them in Wales and Welsh railways’.

The resolution represents a highly significant development in the politics of rail in the UK as a whole. Karen Wilkie, acting General Secretary of the Co-operative Party, told TSSA Journal ‘The Co-operative Party has long campaigned for a ‘people’s rail’, which would respond to the needs of those who use it and work on it; and would direct profits to improving the service rather than to shareholders. I hope that Wales can be at the forefront of creating a new way for public transport, just as we were – so successfully – with a not-for-profit model for water services over a decade ago’.

The politics are different north of the border, where the Scottish National Party is in government and has been criticised for its close relationship with people like Brian Souter, owner of the Stagecoach empire, and Sir George Mathewson, chair of First Group.

Transport Scotland’s consultation paper on the future of Scotland’s railways has stirred up a hornet’s nest of criticism with suggestions that the ScotRail franchise might be broken up. Steve Coe, TSSA’s national organiser for Scotland and

The re-opened Waverley Route will run into the Edinburgh station that shares its name.

TSSA Journal

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TSSA personal injury service

“Stephen had been cycling to work in York when a car collided with him.

“I was cycling along a side street and then I heard wheels screeching behind me. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, and the car that hit my bike was driving off.”

Stephen had no time to take the driver’s registration number. A nearby resident heard the screeching tyres and could verify the time of the collision but had not seen any part of the accident.

“Looking back now, I think I was in shock. You always imagine if you’re in that situation, you’ll be well organised, but I was hopeless. If I’d had my wits about me, I probably would have noted details but until you’re in that situation, you don’t realise how dazed you are,” he says.

Stephen attended A&E where staff said he had fractured his right hand, which was treated with a plaster cast. For several months after the accident, Stephen suffered anxiety.

“I was unable to ride for months after the accident. There wasn’t any physical problem. Physically I was on the mend and when the cast came off my right hand was

fine. The problem was I was just anxious, all the time, around traffic. I’d never had that problem before,” says Stephen.

Stephen, who is a department head in a major multinational transport company and has been a member of TSSA for nine years, contacted his branch rep about pursuing a legal claim.

“My branch rep was ace. She knew exactly what I needed to do and put me in touch with Morrish Solicitors. Because the driver was untraceable, they put in a claim for me with the Motor Insurers Bureau under the Untraced Drivers’ Scheme.”

The MIB initially felt that Stephen clearly had been injured, but had been contributory negligent and they should only accept 50% liability.

“I was shocked. How could they say it was half my fault? Then my solicitor, Fiona, explained to me how the system worked and what my options were next and I remember thinking ‘I’m glad you guys are on my side.’ So we appealed.”

The case was sent to an Arbitrator appointed by the Department for Transport. The Arbitrator found that there was no contributory negligence –

CC BY-NC-ND 2 Let Ideas Compete

Compensation after collision with untraceable driver

that it was all the driver’s fault – and awarded the Stephen £2650 in damages.

“After the accident I was angry, really angry, that the driver had kept going and left me injured in the road. But I am glad that TSSA and Fiona at Morrish have helped me find justice. I am now

able to deal with my anxiety and I feel like the whole affair is properly behind me.” l Based on a real life case.

Certain details have been altered to protect the victims. Morrish Solicitors is a Limited Liability Partnership and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Accidents do not happen - they are caused!

As a member of the TSSA, should either you or your immediate family suffer injury through someone else’s negligence, you will be entitled to FREE legal advice and representation from our specialist personal injury lawyers Morrish Solicitors LLP. No money will be deducted from any compensation recovered and no charge will be made to you or your family for the advice and representation you receive.

If you’d like to find out more, call us today and we will look after you.

ACCIDENTS AT WORK

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June 2012

ACCIDENTS OUTSIDE WORK

ASSAULTS

TSSA Personal Injury Services Free to Members & their families

0800 093 0353

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

SLIPS OR TRIPS

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE

hel pdesk If you have a question about your workplace rights, call our employment law specialists on 0800 3282673 in the UK or 1800 805272 in the Republic of Ireland or email helpdesk@tssa.org.uk Hours: Monday to Thursday 8am–6pm Friday 8am–5pm

Disciplinary whilst off sick?

Q. I am representing a member who has been called to a disciplinary hearing and has now gone off sick with stress. The management have said that he must attend even if he is off sick.

Can they force him?

A. If the member has been

Sick pay withheld by boss Q. I went off sick at a really busy time and my manager was really annoyed. Now she has said that I won’t get any sick pay. I’ve worked for them for eight years and I always got it before. None of my colleagues has ever had it stopped, but she is being really vindictive. Can I do anything about it?

A. The first thing to do is to check your contract. If that says that you will be paid company or contractual sick pay then she can’t withhold it. Things are more difficult if it says sick pay is paid at the discretion of the manager. In

that case she may be able to carry out her threat, but if you and your colleagues have always been paid in the past you might have a reasonable expectation to be paid it now. The company must act in accordance with the implied term of trust and confidence, and must not use its discretion arbitrarily, which the manager clearly is. You could get your rep to have a word with the HR department so they can put her straight, otherwise submit a grievance for unlawful deduction of wages.

Contract end dates in redundancy Q. I have been made redundant, and I have five months notice. I have worked for the company for 19 years. The company have said they will pay me in lieu of notice, and 19 years’ redundancy pay, but I will have done 20 years two weeks before the end of my notice period. Shouldn’t I be paid redundancy for the full 20?

UK

advised not to work by his GP then he can’t be compelled to attend.

However, he needs to be aware that if the company can show a reasonable belief that he has gone sick to dodge the disciplinary they can hold it in his absence. You could seek a postponement but it may depend on the severity of the alleged offence as to whether the company will be prepared to wait, especially with a condition as open-ended as stress. If you can prove that your member had a good previous attendance and

disciplinary record it may be harder for the company to demonstrate they are acting ‘reasonably’ by not delaying the hearing.

A. What we need to establish here

Republic of Ireland

the date your contract ends – the Effective Date of Termination (EDT). The EDT is your actual last day at work, so even if your notice goes beyond that, and they pay you in lieu, then your contract will have ended before you had completed your 20 years, and the company is right. Some companies insist their staff work their full notice, or place them on gardening leave. In this case the EDT would be at the end of the notice period and any extra years accrued would be payable.

0800 3282673/1800 805272

Before we have a look at some recent questions, we have a word of warning (again!) about Facebook use. The Helpdesk is receiving an increasing number of calls from members who are in trouble because of comments they have put on Facebook about their company or colleagues. If an employer can show that this has led to a ‘loss of trust and confidence’ they have a fair reason for dismissal.

TSSA Journal

29

members’ news

25 year long service award introduced MEMBERS WHO HAVE given 25 years continuous service to the Association will now be recognised with a new award. Lapel badges have been produced and will be distributed over the coming months to members who reach or have previously reached that

Your help needed – have you suffered harassment?

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS to remove new protections against third party harassment from the Equality Act. So that we can provide proper evidence in the response to the consultation document we would like to hear from you if you have been subjected to harassment while at work by people who are not employed by your employer – this may be a customer, supplier or another type of non-employee.

Please email brief details of examples to stansfieldv@tssa.org.uk by 15 July. It would also be useful to know how you dealt with the harassment, including whether you reported it to your employer, and the action they took.7

TSSA subscription rates 2012-13 Full rate

Full deduction Weekly Four weekly Monthly Quarterly Half Annual Annually

£4.00 £16.00 £17.40 £52.20 £104.40 £208.80

Full deduction (Ireland) €4.60 €18.40 €20.00 €60.00 €120.00 €240.00

Weekly Four weekly Monthly Quarterly Half Annual Annually

£2.00 £8.00 £8.70 £26.10 £52.20 £104.40

€2.30 €9.20 €10.00 €30.00 €60.00 €120.00

milestone. The proposal, which originated in a Conference motion from Brighton branch last year, seeks to honour some of TSSA’s longeststanding members who have been with us through the many changes that have taken place since 1987.7

Executive Committee election result Lancs & Cumbria seat Martin Leadbetter (Network Rail North West Branch) has been elected unopposed.

Annual Conference 2012 election results Trades Union Congress delegates Mick Carney, Mitch Tovey, Fliss Premru (six further candidates were not elected) Women’s TUC delegates Rebecca Barnes, Susan Pattwell, Fliss Premru Women’s Labour Party Conference delegate Cheryl O’Brien Labour Party Conference delegates Manjit Gill, Hilary Hosking, Jill Murdoch, Trevor Ollis (three further candidates were not elected)

Part rate

Superannuated and retired members pay part rate.

Standing Orders Committee Dave Roberts, Joel Kosminsky, Bob Davies, Steve Floyd (two further candidates were not elected) Scrutineers Luke Howard, Ian Wilson (two further candidates were not elected)

Railway Employees Privilege Ticket Association 2012 REPTA membership is available now for all transport industry staff and families, active and retired. Many free, discounted and special rates are available to members as described in our information packed Yearbook. £4.50 per year including p&p. Additional cards for family members £3. New for 2012: Family membership – two adults and all children up to age 18 for £9 including P&P. Send cheques/postal orders payable to ‘REPTA’ to: Colin Rolle,4 Brackmills Close, Forest Town, Mansfield, NG19 0PB or join on line. See: www.repta.co.uk.

New: Discount cinema tickets. You can also book rail travel with Raileasy via www.repta.co.uk.

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June 2012

learning

TSSA takes lead in Dyslexia Awareness initiative

Members launching the new Eurostar learning agreement at St Pancras

Eurostar learning boost AFTER 12 MONTHS of negotiations, a new Learning Agreement has finally been signed off with Eurostar.

After the launch event at St Pancras International, a Learning Steering Group meeting agreed a structure within the company to promote the union learning agenda, assist the company in developing employees through learning and improve skills.

TSSA reps will be working with Eurostar on promoting NVQ Accredited Training with Qube Training, who offer various funded level 2 and 3 courses in Business Services and Hospitality.

TSSA learning rep Wendy Cleave, then TSSA learning organiser Karl Rogers and regional organiser Nick Child joined Eurostar’s learning and development manager Frank Rivier and Yvonne Roach, head of organisational effectiveness and development, together with other learning reps from across the company. 7

i

Wendy Cleave, the TSSA’s learning rep based at Kent House, Ashford will be running a blog on learning events that are available. Contact Wendy at wendy.cleave@eurostar.com for further information.

Education and organising programme TSSA’S EDUCATION PROGRAMME gives opportunities for reps, members and branch officers to further develop the skills as informed and confident advocates for their fellow members.

The following courses will take place in the coming months. For more information about any of these, or to find our more about TSSA’s education programme in general, contact Adele Potten-Price on 020 7529 8323 / education@tssa.org.uk.

Course Engaging the community and public LGBT issues Staff inductions and collective bargaining Negotiation skills for women Workplace educators Health and safety reps Induction for new reps Being a learning rep

Date Location 2-4 July London 6-8 July London 11-12 July London 23-25 July London 20-22 August London 8-10 October London 15-16 October London 22-24 October London

Level 4 Specialist 4 2 4 2 1 2

RECENTLY THE TSSA Learning Team in Belfast hosted the launch of a new Dyslexia Awareness initiative.

Learning organiser Mark Wilkinson commented: ‘The aim of the launch was to begin the process of informing all of Translink’s staff that TSSA and the employer want to work together in helping and supporting staff who have dyslexia. All of the speakers were excellent but it was a great coup to have Dr Stephen Farry, the Minister for the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) attend. This reflects positively on the learning project partnership between TSSA and Translink.’

In addition to the Minister, other speakers included TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, Catherine Mason, the Group chief executive of Translink and TSSA member Kerry Jack, who has dyslexia. TSSA education officer Adele PottenPrice and Susannah Gill, TSSA’s neurodiversity officer both hosted a question and answer session.

TSSA member Kerry Jack, who spoke at the launch, revealed: ‘When I knew who was attending the launch I was really nervous, but thrilled at the same time to be given the opportunity of explaining to everyone how dyslexia affects me on a day to day basis.

Speaking at the launch gave me the chance to talk on a very personal level about dyslexia.’

Others represented at the launch were Irish Congress Trade Unions, CWU, USDAW and the Dyslexia Centre based in Belfast.

Mark explained: ‘This is only the start of a long process which will serve to inform, educate, help, and offer continued support to people with dyslexia. TSSA is leading the way with its focus on union learning, education and diversity, with the welfare of people as learners at the heart of that focus.’7

Manuel Cortes helped launch the initiative with the Education Minister TSSA Journal

31

letters and reviews This is your chance to share your views with thousands of other TSSA members. The deadline for the next issue is 1 August. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. Email journal@tssa.org.uk or write to TSSA Journal, Walkden House, 10 Melton Street, London, NW1 2EJ.

letters

Recognising long-serving members At last year’s Conference the Brighton Branch submitted a motion that long serving members deserved a special award for their support and loyalty.

The branch believed that as a progressive union we should not only plan for the future but ensure that the foundation set by the forward thinking and unceasing hard work of long serving colleagues should also be recognised.

The Executive opposed the motion but a majority of our colleagues agreed that at a minimum, a feasibility study into the costs should be explored.

The report concluded that a long membership award medal was a

financial possibility.

This year the EC provided an eloquent and persuasive reason to Conference why they should support their motion on TSSA awards.

The motion passed with ease. Change is possible!

The Brighton Branch thank you all for your help.

Michael Litchfield chair, Brighton Branch Editor’s reply: Not only was the motion passed but the badges have now been produced. See p30 for all the details.

See you on the demo?

Politics is all about choices and priorities. The decision of France’s new socialist government to restore the retirement age

to 60 for those who have a sufficiently long history of pension contributions stands in sharp contrast to the policies of the Sarkozy regime and those of our own government.

The new pension age will be paid for by a small rise in payroll charges for employers and employees.

In all Anglia 1‘s community campaigning against the cuts we have always emphasised that there are alternatives to the Government’s austerity programme. This is going to become increasingly important as we build support for the TUC’s demonstration on 20 October. I hope that every divisional council, SOG and branch will play a part in encouraging members to participate in

what will be a massive demonstration.

In some form or other, every single TSSA member should be contacted. With modern technology at our fingertips I am confident that someone in every branch has the ability to produce a leaflet which can be passed to members and distributed in the community. Most important of all, we need to talk to colleagues in the workplace and encourage them to attend the demonstration. We need to emphasise that although the cuts have hardly started, millions of people are already suffering and we need to force this government to change course.

Malcolm Wallace Anglia 1 Branch

Join TSSA at the 2012 Tolpuddle Festival and Rally THE TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS’ Festival, from 13-15 July is a truly unique event. There have been celebrations of the Tolpuddle story every year since the 1930s but the event has been going from strength to strength in recent years, with a growing TSSA presence. The Festival is a key date to remember the sacrifices made by six Dorset farmworkers as they were punished for their attempt to form a union in 1834.

The weekend is a lot more than a rally for trade unionists. There will be plenty of debate on a wide range of topics. Leading speakers will inform, captivate, inspire, argue with, rant at and challenge those attending. Between or even instead of the politics there will be a diverse mixture of excellent music.

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If you are interested in coming along to help or just to visit, please email tolpuddle@tssa.org.uk to register or get more information. For general festival details see tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk.

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June 2012