CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS – AVANTI WEST COAST

Our Ref: BR2/14/2

 

23^rd February 2024

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS – AVANTI WEST COAST

 

It is being reported that Avanti West Coast intend to have card only transactions for onboard catering, removing the ability for passengers to purchase with cash. 

 

This decision is a reckless attack on the catering grade and will have a detrimental impact on vulnerable passengers. Should these proposals go ahead then many elderly passengers, low-income passengers and passengers who do not have bank accounts will be unable to access the vital service of onboard catering. 

 

However, these proposals are fundamentally an attack on railway jobs and specifically onboard catering staff. Removing the ability to pay with cash is putting onboard catering at Avanti West Coast services at serious risk and will likely result in fewer passengers.

 

Therefore, I have asked that the company immediately withdraw any plans to introduce card only payments for onboard catering.  

 

The Union’s National Executive Committee has considered this matter and has welcomed the report from our Lead Officer informed by our Catering Company Council representatives. The NEC has instructed me to advise the company that we are now in dispute with them over this matter.

 

The Union’s NEC has also instructed me to carry out the following: 

 

• Progress the matter with our parliamentary group, putting down of an early day motion on this issue and opposing the company’s plans to go cashless.
• As some people do not have access to credit cards or bank cards, to raise this issue with groups opposed to cashless only transactions and to raise the issue with organisations that are campaigning for inclusive services allowing the Union to build an alliance against the company proposals. 
• Produce a leaflet with ‘Punchy’ slogans advising passengers about the proposals and the EDM details – asking them to lobby their MPs and with a facility to email Avanti West Coast directly.
• Organise a leafleting campaign day at Avanti West Coast Stations.
• Issue further media releases on the subject.

 

As you will have already seen in my previous correspondence, an Early Day Motion on the matter has been tabled in Parliament by supportive MPs, and we are asking our Avanti members to write to their MP, to ask them to sign this motion and to raise the matter with the Government. 

 

A model letter for writing to your MP is online here. Please share this with colleagues and ask them to write to their MP as well. 

 

I am currently carrying out the rest of the NEC instruction and I will write to members again to advise of any further developments. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary