May 2023
REGIONAL NEWSLETTER
Issue 11
CONTACT US: Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at N69a2e@rmt.org.uk
North East Region
TOC MEMBERS RESOUNDINGLY VOTE
YES
It was never in doubt. The anger and frustration we hear daily manifested itself in the latest ballot of members working for 14 train operating companies, showing that loyal, hard-working staff will no longer submit to being demonised by the media, management and the government. A massive YES has been returned in this latest ballot to continue with industrial action defending jobs, pay and terms and conditions. The government, the Rail Delivery Group, and the capitalist bosses continue to insist that TOC members were presented with a fair and just offer. They must think our members are fools - we have shown them again and again that we will not accept what they keep trying to feed us. Members, some of whom have not had a pay rise in 4 years, are expected to accept a massive real terms pay cut, and attacks on their jobs and pensions as a reward for doing so. Enough is enough. We continue to hear from employers that there is no money, yet we have seen the likes of Avanti West Coast, who have cancelled 17% of their planned trains since Dec 2022, 'rewarded' for their failure with continued contracts, and pay rises to their directors of up to 30%. In our own region, Transpennine Express continues to compete to be the country's most incompetent train operator with almost a quarter of their trains cancelled in March. Incredibly one of their directors received a 275% rise! Ordinary workers, meanwhile, are expected to lick the metaphorical crumbs from the floor and be grateful. These private operators are not exposed to risk or cost for any cancellations, so the taxpayer picks up the bill and rewards their failure whilst they reward themselves and demonise the workers. We all want a resolution to this dispute - we have stood strong on the face of attacks from the government, from company propaganda, from managers undermining us by working on strike days and picking up extra money for doing so. Now is the time to stand strong. We can achieve so much by standing together and we will win if we do. Support the strikes, support your picket lines. Congratulations on your massive display of solidarity.
UNITY IS STRENGTH.