DISMISSAL, J REID – RAIL GOURMET (TPE CONTRACT)

Our Ref: HC/4/1

 

17^th January 2024

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

DISMISSAL, J REID – RAIL GOURMET (TPE CONTRACT) 

 

Your Lead Officer has reported that Rail Gourmet has dismissed one of our elected RMT Representatives, Jamie Reid. As a single parent, Jamie was left in an impossible situation surrounding Childcare arrangements. This situation has been brought on by Rail Gourmet’s failure to abide by their commitments to support Jamie with his flexible working request. Instead of upholding their promise to support Jamie and address his request, they instead dragged their heels and forced our RMT representative into making a difficult decision. 

 

This dismissal is a clear attempt by Rail Gourmet to undermine your elected representative and a callous and reckless attempt at targeting effective reps who defend Rail Gourmet colleagues. The company has treated your colleague appallingly and we cannot allow them to try and dismiss our elected representatives.

 

During the recent pay dispute, your elected representatives, including Jamie – who took a leading role in the dispute - were instrumental in achieving a successful pay award for you and your colleagues. It is no coincidence that Rail Gourmet has now dismissed our representative. There is no doubt that the company are targeting our representatives and trying to dismiss them on trumped up charges. 

 

Unfortunately, at the appeal hearing the company decided to uphold their decision to dismiss Jamie. However, during the appeal Rail Gourmet failed to consider mitigating circumstances connected to this dismissal. There are also other examples of where other members of staff in similar circumstances have been treated more favourably, only reinforcing our belief that Jamie has been treated unfairly due to his status as an RMT representative.

 

It goes without saying that our representatives are only as strong as the members they represent, and it is now more than ever that we must support our representatives. This union has a proud history of fighting against injustice and this is no exception. We have and will always stand up for those who put themselves on the front line to represent our members. 

 

Therefore, the National Executive Committee has considered this matter and believes that we must now act. I have been instructed to conduct a ballot of you and your colleagues to defend our representatives. We must stand together and send the company a clear message that we will not tolerate this injustice. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we stand together and demonstrate our strength of feeling to the company and that we will not allow Rail Gourmet to bully our representatives. I am urging members to vote ‘YES’ to both questions in the ballot for industrial action.

 

Therefore, the ballot for industrial action will open on Wednesday 24^th January 2024 and will close on Tuesday 13^th February 2024.

 

This is a clear management tactic of trying to remove your elected representatives by suspending them using unscrupulous charges. Remember it is you who elect your representatives, do not allow this company to dictate who represents you.

 

To ensure a swift ballot and to have a chance to vote, I urge you all to ensure your membership details are correct. If your job title, address or workplace has recently changed, please contact the RMT Helpline by Email at info@rmt.org.uk; alternatively, you can call the RMT Freephone Helpline number on 0800 376 3706, the RMT switchboard on 0207 387 4771 and ask to speak to the Industrial Relations Department. Additionally, if you know a colleague who has moved or changed jobs inform them to contact the union on one of the above contact methods where we will be able to amend their details accordingly.

 

It is imperative that we get a massive return in the ballot for industrial action, so we are not prevented from acting on our members' wishes by the ballot thresholds. Failure to meet these thresholds means industrial action cannot happen, so a high turnout is crucial. 

 

I urge members not to waste their vote and to vote 'YES' for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

 

 

SUPPORT YOUR COLLEAGUE

SUPPORT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

VOTE YES FOR STRIKE ACTION

VOTE YES FOR ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary