BODY WORN CAMERAS, GROUND STAFF – DB CARGO

To All DB Cargo Ground Staff RMT Members

 

Our Ref: BR3/4/4

 

19^th January 2024

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

BODY WORN CAMERAS, GROUND STAFF – DB CARGO

 

I write with regards to the above matter and to inform you that I have received a report from your Lead Officer, indicating that DB Cargo intends to trial Body Worn Cameras for Ground staff during January 2024. The company state that the trial is to ‘ensure that the equipment is user friendly and give what is needed to manage safety incidents and investigations.’

 

However, your Lead Officer reports that the company are under pressure from Network Rail to reduce the number of hand brakes being left on trains and that the equipment will be used to discipline our Ground staff members for safety of the line incidents. 

 

The RMT is opposed to the trials as there are already measures in place to deal with any incidents where our Ground staff members are charged with leaving a hand brake on. The Union believes that Body Worn Cameras are not necessary to deal with this matter and that the money would be better spent on improving industrial relations between our two organisations. Therefore, the RMT has informed DB Cargo that we refuse to participate in any trials. 

 

The matter has been subject to recent consideration by the union’s National Executive Committee who notes the report from the Lead Officer and has expressed their concerns, as this equipment is normally reserved and agreed for public facing roles. 

 

The RMT is a fighting Union and we are here to serve our members best interests. The RMT will do everything we can to protect our members jobs, terms and conditions. If you know of a colleague who is not a member of the RMT and who wishes to join, please ask them to contact the RMT Helpline on 0800 376 3706 or join online at www.rmt.org.uk

 

I trust this keeps you fully advised on the matter and I will, of course, update you on any further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch

General Secretary