Reintroduction of onboard revenue, Abellio ScotRail

Head Office Circular NP/167/21
Our Ref: HSR/1/3
20th May 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague

REINTRODUCTION OF ONBOARD REVENUE, ABELLIO SCOTRAIL

Further to Head Office Circular 282/20(rev), dated 2nd December 2020, your National Executive Committee (NEC) has made the following decisions. The first one was held back from being circulated during negotiations, upon the request of your Lead Officer.

Following receipt of an updated report from your Lead Officer, at its meeting on 1st April 2021 your NEC resolved as follows:

Referring to Decision No. Nww, 1st December 2020, we thank the Lead Officer for his
updated report, that there is a meeting on Tuesday 7 April with Abellio ScotRail to discuss
this matter.

We also thank Jonathan Havard, RMT Health and Safety Officer for his input.

Under the RICF agreement, all training is suspended until restrictions are lifted. Abellio
Scotrail are part of the RICF, therefore party to their decisions.

On Monday 26 April the Scottish Government lifts some restrictions, until that date Scotland
remains in Tier 4.

This NEC believes that from Monday 26 April, all working party members should be released
from duty to gather intelligence and in conjunction with Abellio ScotRail complete training
and familiarisation activities with Monday 17 May as the agreed date to a full return to
revenue protection duties.

If Abellio ScotRail fails to agree to these dates, the General Secretary is instructed to write
to the company to inform them that RMT will be in dispute with them and will commence a
ballot on all Conductor and Ticket Examiner grades.

Scottish branches and regional councils to be advised.

Following a further report form your Lead Officer, at its meeting on 18th May your NEC resolved as follows:

We note the report from our Lead Officer.

A working party has been set up and it has been agreed that no member will be disciplined
if they feel it unsafe to conduct revenue protection. This may include times when a
passenger isn’t wearing a facemask or the carriage is too busy to maintain social distancing.

The agreed Risk Assessments are in place.

The working party are satisfied and will attend regular review meetings with the company.
This NEC agrees with the Lead Officers recommendation that any increase in the level tier
system will result in all revenue protection duties ceasing.


Following a further updated report from your Lead Officer, your NEC today resolved as follows:

Referring to Decision Nww, 18th May 2021, we note the updated report from our Lead
Officer.

Abellio ScotRail is attempting to bring in cash transactions onboard trains from Monday 24th
May, with or without agreement by the working party.

The NEC instructs the General Secretary to send out a text message to all our conductor and
ticket examiner members, reminding them not to accept cash transactions until there has
been an agreement reached between the company and the RMT.

This text message should also remind members that they must adhere to the agreed risk
assessments, that is, if members feel unable to complete revenue protection safely, please
use the work safe procedure.

The General Secretary is also instructed to place further updates in front of the NEC.
Relevant members, branches and regional council to be advised.

Can I therefore reiterate to our Conductor and Ticket Examiner members not to accept cash transactions until there has been an agreement reached between the company and RMT.

Members are further reminded that they must adhere to the agreed risk assessments; that is, if members feel unable to complete revenue protection safely, please invoke the work safe procedure.

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

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary