Network Rail, Work Instruction – Covid-19 Contingency Plan: Safe Working Practices

Our Ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/352/21
17th September 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

NETWORK RAIL, WORK INSTRUCTION COVID-19 CONTINGENCY PLAN: SAFE WORKING PRACTICES

I write to inform you that your National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 16th September 2021, to discuss a report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee relating to correspondence received from RMT Lead Officer for the Company. This correspondence related to the Companies failure to engage in meaningful consultation as to their intention to change their 009 Standard - COVID-19 Contingency Plan: Safe Working Practice and their Covid-19 Work Activity Risk Assessment.

The report adopted by the NEC is as follows:


We note the correspondence received from NWR in which they explain they are proceeding with their plans to reduce Covid-19 mitigation measures.

We are extremely concerned about this, particularly following the recent Government announcement “Covid-19: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021”, in which the Government explained that infection rates are rising and they will increase further as schools and Universities return - a pattern that has already emerged in Scotland where education establishments returned several weeks ago.

In connection with the situation in Scotland we are aware that NWR have not proceeded with the introduction of the new version of CP009 but are still using the previous version. We call on NWR to halt their plans to allow for meaningful consultation.

The General Secretary is instructed to write to Network Rail to explain that we cannot accept the way in which they have imposed these changes which puts the health, safety, and welfare of our members at risk. That we have not been meaningfully consulted and therefore we register a fail to agree and request an urgent meeting.

NWR members to be informed by text and email.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions and will keep members advised of any developments.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary