DEFEND JOBS, PAY AND CONDITIONS – LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY

Our Ref: BR2/15/4

20^th March 2024

 

Dear RMT Member

 

DEFEND JOBS, PAY AND CONDITIONS – LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY

 

I recently wrote to you on the matter of Workforce Reforms (2023 Pay Negotiations). Discussions have continued to take place with the company and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

 

The company have proposed to introduce a new grade – the multi-functional operative grade – which the company have claimed is a matter for consultation and can be categorised as a ‘change in working practice’. This has vehemently been opposed by the Union. I have written to the company to inform them that this matter is firmly a matter for negotiation and advised the company of the following agreement within the agreed structures:

 

Procedure Agreement 1, Annex B of the LNER Collective Bargaining Agreement states that ‘the following questions for negotiation are within the purpose of the Council:

 

(i) grade structures, remuneration systems and related terms and conditions of

employment.’

 

The RMT believes that as the multi-functional operative grade is a newly introduced grade

within the company, with a new salary and new terms & conditions, and is created as part

of the workforce reform proposals, that it should be a negotiable item as opposed to

consultative.

 

As a result, the RMT Stations and Travel Centre Company Council within LNER, have registered a failure to agree, because of the company’s intention to introduce a new multi-functional operative within its organisation.

 

The Union’s National Executive Committee has considered the matter and have fully supported your representatives on this matter, as working outside of the collective bargaining procedures is an abrogation of the procedures. If the company continue in this manner than a dispute situation will arise which will be separate to the MoU discussions. 

 

Therefore, I will be advising our representatives to attend the meetings so that further reports can be obtained. The union will be maintaining the stance on this matter that these matters are for negotiation and we will not move on this. 

 

A mass meeting of all Train Operating Company representatives, Lead Officers and the NEC has been arranged, which the LNER representatives will be invited to attend. 

 

The Union will continue to monitor this situation and discussions under the MoU. I will write to advise members of any updates. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary