Staff Our Stations Campaign Update

Circular No: NP/015/20

To: All Branches, Regional Councils and Regional Organisers

22nd January 2020

Dear Colleagues

Staff Our Stations Campaign Update

Dear colleague,

Last week station staff reps and activists from all regions attended a very successful Staff our Stations campaign meeting.

Speakers included Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Transport Secretary, Steve Hedley, RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary and Emily Yates from the Association of British Commuters, Paula Peters from Disabled People Against Cuts and Tony Donaghey from the National Pensioners Convention. These discussions focused on the need to join forces with commuter, disability rights and pensioners groups to fight these damaging cuts.

Many reps shared shocking examples of the impact of cuts to station staffing and unstaffed stations and there was a productive discussion about how the campaign can be taken forward in branches and regions, focusing on the importance of building membership density and organising in station grades.

We are clear that this conference is a starting point, and all regions are encouraged to hold similar events with their station staff members to build on the campaign and establish station grades committees in their regions. Further communication regarding arrangements for regional campaign meetings will soon follow.

Branches are encouraged to make contact with and build links with local groups in their area. There are DPAC groups throughout the country, details of which are available here - https://dpac.uk.net/contact-details-for-local-dpac-groups/ Details of Regional NPC groups are here - https://www.npcuk.org/join-us-and-get-involved

New Campaign Materials

A new campaign poster and postcard has been produced. If you would like copies of these please email Sophie Ward (s.ward@rmt.org.uk) advising your branch and the address you would like materials sent to.

The postcards can be distributed to passengers and the public, asking them to raise this issue with their MP, and asking them to sign an Early Day Motion.

We will be holding campaign action days in the upcoming months, details of which will be shared in due course.

Online Petition

An online petition has been set up, calling on Train Operating Companies, Department for Transport, Transport for London to ensure fully staffed and accessible stations across the rail network and on London Underground.

Please sign the petition, share it with colleagues and members and publicise on social media - https://bit.ly/2NMNqUu

Early Day Motion

A new Early Day Motion has been tabled by MPs in support of the campaign.

Please contact your MP, and ask them to sign Early Day Motion #38 https://bit.ly/2TJiBnz

A model letter you can send to your MP is on the RMT website here - https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/sos-staff-our-stations/

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Cash
General Secretary