Report of discussions with Secretary of State for Transport

To: All Branches, Regional Councils and Regional Organisers

24th July 2017
P8
Circular No. NP117/17


Dear Colleague

Report of discussions with Secretary of State for Transport

As members may be aware, last Friday the union held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling.

Whist the Secretary of State had suggested the meeting to discuss the DOO dispute on Southern, the union also took the opportunity to raise the other DOO disputes or potential disputes such as on Northern, Greater Anglia, South West Trains and Merseyrail.

We also took the opportunity to raise the urgent crisis and threat to jobs facing our members because of the scaling back of rail renewal work and the impact on such companies as Babcock Rail and Carillion.  In this respect, the union forcibly expressed our view that these jobs must be saved to protect key engineering skills and the integrity and safety of the rail infrastructure and the Secretary of State has agreed further discussion and dialogue with him and the Department of Transport on these issues. I am following this up a matter of urgency.

Regarding the Driver Only Operation disputes we had a full and frank discussion on our concerns and the Secretary of State has now had an opportunity to get a clear understanding of RMT's position on Southern Rail and the broader issue of how the extension of DOO impacts nationally on other rail franchises.

In respect of the specifics of the Southern dispute the Secretary of State has agreed to examine our proposals that we had previously put to Southern which I have sent over to him. He also agreed to meet again if necessary.

Regarding DOO on other companies the Secretary of State claimed that he was not sitting on companies telling them what to do and I am therefore writing to the relevant companies to seek urgent discussions.

A report back of the meeting with the Secretary of State will be considered by the NEC and I will keep you advised of developments.

I am also sending an email to relevant members advising them of the above.  

Yours sincerely  

 

Mick Cash                                                       
General Secretary