Dear RMT Member,
DEFEND JOBS, PAY AND CONDITIONS – TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES
I wrote to you all last week and advised that should the Union not receive any meaningful proposals, and should no progress be forthcoming, then when the NEC consider this matter, they would be outlining further dates of strike action.
The RDG and Train Operating Companies have once again failed to provide any proposals for the Union to consider. The National Executive Committee has considered this matter further and has placed on record their commendations of RMT members and the fortitude members have shown in defending their jobs, pay and conditions over the last twelve months.
During this period, not a single compulsory redundancy has been made, nor a single booking office closed. This is evidently down to the industrial action and determination of members to fight for jobs, pay and conditions.
Over the last twelve months, the country has seen the departures of three Prime Ministers and three Secretaries of State for Transport. But our members are still in this campaign, rock solid and determined to see it through. You and your colleagues have remained resilient and your resolve to fight for our key demands has been and remains unwavering.
It should also be noted, that within the industry the Union has achieved acceptable pay awards at Train Operating Companies that are not constrained by the government and the departments for Transport’s Rail Delivery group.
The repeated rejected offers from secretaries of state will not weaken our resolve to achieve an acceptable deal for RMT members. The government need to release their grip on the fourteen Rail Delivery Group Train Operating Companies and allow them to enter into discussions and reach a mutually acceptable deal.
In the absence of any offer, we have no choice but to continue our fight. After giving this matter further consideration, the Union’s NEC is calling further strike action.
Therefore, the Union’s National Executive Committee is instructing all members working for Avanti West Coast, C2C, Chiltern Railway, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, GTR (Gatwick Express, Southern Thameslink and Great Northern), Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, SE Trains, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains (WMR & LNWR) to take the following strike action:
All members involved in the dispute to take strike action and NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts between:
0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Thursday 20th July 2023
0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 22nd July 2023
0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 29th July 2023
I ask that members remain resilient and continue to show solidarity. We must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder during the industrial action.
Since this dispute began, the union has always been available for talks to resolve this entirely avoidable dispute, and we continue to remain available to find a meaningful resolution.
I will write to members with any further updates
UNITY IS STRENGTH
SUPPORT THE ACTION
DEFEND YOUR JOBS, PAY AND CONDITIONS
Yours sincerely
Michael Lynch
General Secretary