DELIVERY PLAN – INTERCITY EAST COAST

Our Ref:

5th July 2016

Dear Colleague,

DELIVERY PLAN – INTERCITY EAST COAST

Further to previous correspondence regarding the above, members will be aware that various meetings have taken place with the Company at which the Union sought guarantees on a number of issues in relation to InterCity East Coast’s plans for the franchise:-

• That PTR&R will be adhered to at all times. • No compulsory redundancies. • A safety-critical guard will be present on every train. • Confirmation of establishment numbers. • TUPE to be adhered to. • Protection of rates of pay.

We did receive a response from the Company which was noted by the NEC however, having consulted with your VTEC Reps, the NEC took the decision that the correspondence did not adequately address the concerns of this Union. In respect of the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, VTEC management could only give us a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for a period of 12 months but with the conditions that RMT would not enter into any industrial action during this period.

This matter was considered at the Union’s Annual General Meeting last week and the decision was taken to declare a dispute situation with the Company and ballot all VTEC members for industrial action. I have informed the Company today that we are in dispute as members’ aspirations and concerns have not been satisfactorily addressed by the Company.

As always, we remain available for further talks with the Company to resolve this dispute and further meetings are planned to take place. I will of course keep you advised of all further developments. 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary