july-aug22.qxp_RMT 27/07/2022 09:19 Page 9
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NO FIRE AND RE-HIRE AT WABTEC DONCASTER
W
orkers at Wabtec Doncaster have suspended industrial action after the company conceded a number of issues in the long running dispute. These included the reinstatement of a five-minute wash up at the end of the day, two tea breaks, 14 roles saved by removing all employees from being at risk of redundancy, a one-off payment of £500 in December
2022 and apprentices to be included in the collective bargaining agreement for future negotiations The union noted that while this represented an improvement to previous proposals, they still failed to meet the reasonable aspirations of workers and members remain effectively coerced by the threat of fire and-rehire. RMT members in Doncaster
have been negotiating for the last 12 months to try and find a solution to the financial problems faced by the company. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch congratulated workers for already taking part in fantastically solid industrial action. “Staff at the company have continually rejected new working arrangements repeatedly and the move to
fire workers and re-hire them on worse contracts than before would not go unanswered. “Wabtec Doncaster has a proud history, where predecessors built the Flying Scotsman and Mallard locomotives. “This management should continue to engage with workforce and retreat from attempts to throw 80 skilled workers on the scrap heap,” he said.
MERSEYRAIL VICTORY Members working for Merseyrail have won a seven per cent pay rise and secured hundreds of jobs on the new class 777 fleet which means the role of the train manager has been protected for the long-term future. RMT members welcomed the pay deal following intense negotiations at the rail
company. The train operator which is owned jointly by Serco and Abellio agreed the deal on a no strings attached basis. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch congratulated the dogged determination of members to secure the crucial role of the onboard train manager.
“After a five-year dispute and 16 days of industrial action stoppages, our members have job security and can make an important contribution to the running of this new train fleet for the travelling public of Merseyside. "It is clear that we can win decent pay rises on train
operators when they are not under the auspices of the Department of Transport and when free collective bargaining can take place. "We want negotiated settlements in all our industrial disputes, and we are not afraid to use strike action where needed,” he said.
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