AGM Item 58: New Technology

Our Ref: HSR/2
8th October 2019
Head Office Circular NP/194/19
THE SECRETARY
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague

AGM ITEM 58: NEW TECHNOLOGY

The following resolution was carried at the AGM 2019:

This Brighton & Hove City Branch has serious concerns over the automation programme and the continued drive to hide Hazard and Risk in all of its forms behind ‘new technology’ across the rail industry.

Individual companies and routes are often doing their own thing and take an interpretation of the rules and standards to suit their own environment and business capabilities, as we are seeing with the attack on safety with the bastardisation of the role of the safety critical guards.

New automatic ticket machines do not return finances when a train ticket is purchased and the train service is subsequently cancelled. This creates a unhealthy atmosphere in ticket offices when passengers seek an immediate financial refund and railway staff working the ticket offices find themselves under significant physical and verbal assaults. This can lead to issues around Mental Health and General Wellbeing for our members.

Across NR we are seeing our maintenance and engineering workers face a constant barrage and tirade by the employer to have new technology utilised at any cost as we have seen with road vehicles, track access and safe working systems.

We demand that some sanity is restored before it is too late for our members and the travelling public. Members from Brighton & Hove City Branch ask the NEC to ensure that these matters are a specific item on agendas and not dealt with under A.O.B. – that the ORR and RSSB are made aware of our concerns, that we defend our members throughout all stages of change and new tech introduction.

At their meeting of 26th September 2019, the National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report of their Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We instruct the General Secretary to take up this matter in line with the resolution.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions. Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary