My Ref: MRP 1/8/9
2nd June 2021
Circular Num: NP/184/2021
To: The Secretary All Branches & Regional Councils
Dear Colleagues,
HULL TRAINS SECTION OF THE RAILWAYS PENSION SCHEME (RPS)
I refer to my previous Circular, NP/170/21, 21st May 2021, as you will recall following the excellent industrial action ballot result where RMT members at Hull Trains gave a clear mandate that they were not prepared to allow management to close the Hull Trains section of the RPS.
I can advise you that management sent a letter to members informing them that they have decided to suspend the closure of the Hull Trains section of the RPS until 28th June 2021 because they accept that they were not clear during the consultation period that their proposal was in fact a change to employees’ contracts of employment.
While management have acknowledged this blunder, they still intend to close Hull Trains Pension Scheme from 28th June 2021 and force its employees into the inferior Industry Wide Defined Contribution pension scheme. This is despite the clear message RMT members have given management by delivering a strong mandate for industrial action in support of their retirement benefits.
I must inform you that because management have refused to remove their reckless proposal completely our representatives at Hull Trains believe that we need to send management a message that this position is not acceptable. Therefore, I would advise you that our members are advised:
• With effect from 0001 Hours on Tuesday 15th June 2021 until further notice they are instructed not to work any overtime or work any rest days
Further as I indicated at the beginning of this email management have put a temporary halt to closing the scheme because they intend to change employees’ contracts of employment. I must advice you that unless employees object in writing to this proposal they will have been seen to have accepted that they are no longer a member of the RPS and their contract of employment will be changed without their agreement.
Therefore, I have included with this circular a pro-forma which members’ can sign, date and send to management informing them that they do not accept this change to their contracts of employment.
I would recommend Hull Trains members’ complete and send the pro-forma to management before 28th June 2021 to register their objection to their contacts being changed.
I will keep you fully advised on any further developments.
I will keep you advised on developments.
Yours sincerely
Michael Lynch
General Secretary