ANNUAL LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS — NETWORK RAIL

Our Ref: BR4/7/1

 

17^th October 2024

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

ANNUAL LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS — NETWORK RAIL

 

I have received troubling reports that Network Rail intends to implement arrangements contained in the 'Management of Block Annual Leave Guidance—Former IMC roles in Maintenance and Works Delivery' document, from this December.

 

This matter is currently at the National Avoidance of Dispute Level 1 stage of our Bargaining Procedure. A meeting was held at this stage on Friday 27^th September where we advised the company that they had not considered the cumulative impact on our members' health introducing more restrictive annual leave arrangements would have, particularly in light of the intensified shift working and rostering our members are working to as a consequence of Modernising Maintenance.

 

Flexibility in annual leave arrangements is a widely recognised and recommended safety measure to mitigate the health impact of shift work, particularly night shift work. 

 

At the meeting of the 27^th, your Union requested that the Guidance document be withdrawn, previous arrangements returned to practice, and for the company enter negotiations with us this October on sensible rostering and leave arrangements that provide a decent work-life balance and recovery time from shift work. We have not had a response from the company and have not exhausted negotiations.

 

For the Company to walk away from these important discussions at this stage without seeking a workable, sensible compromise and agreement is extremely concerning, demonstrating a lack of care to our members health and a disregard to fair bargaining. 

 

I will be placing this breakdown of industrial relations before our National Executive Committee on Tuesday next week to consider our industrial response.

 

I will keep members advised of all further developments in this matter.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary