Dismissal, G. Watson, Conductor First Transpennine Express

Our Ref BR2/4/1

25th June 2015

TO ALL CONDUCTORs AT FIRST TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS

ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTION SUSPENDED!

Dismissal, G. Watson, Conductor
First Transpennine Express

I am pleased to advise you that agreement has been reached in our dispute with First Transpennine Express over the dismissal of Cleethorpes Conductor Glen Watson. Brother Watson had in our view been unfairly dismissed for a despatch irregularity and his fellow Conductors at Cleethorpes and Sheffield took three days of strike action in support of their colleague.

Thanks to the determination of his colleagues to see justice done, an agreement has today been reached which is acceptable to Brother Watson and consequently the dispute is now over. Therefore all industrial action has been suspended and members should work normally. Also, all local protests and demonstrations are cancelled.

This dispute has highlighted the problem of Train Operators automatically dealing with safety incidents as disciplinary issues rather than as training matters. I am pleased to advise you that thanks to pressure from your union, TPE has agreed to introduce a “Fair Culture Policy” with associated lifesaving rules, similar to the one used by Network Rail. This is a major breakthrough as it means what happened to Brother Watson cannot happen again. The Network Rail Policy will be tabled at the next TPE Joint Safety Committee for full discussion with your reps in order to draw up an equivalent policy.    

On behalf of Brother Watson I would like to thank members for their support throughout this dispute which made this agreement possible. It just goes to show what can be achieved when members stand firm in solidarity.

Yours sincerely
 
Mick Cash
General Secretary