DISMISSAL, J REID – RAIL GOURMET (TPE CONTRACT)

Our Ref: HC/4/1

31^st January 2024

Dear Colleague

DISMISSAL, J REID – RAIL GOURMET (TPE CONTRACT) 

By now you should have received your ballot paper in support of dismissed Rail Gourmet Representative, Jamie Reid, disgracefully sacked on trumped up charges following a witch hunt from his employer, Rail Gourmet. 

For your information, Jamie Reid was disgracefully sacked for nothing more than caring for his son as a single parent on a workday. He was left with little choice following 2 years of failed attempts to reach an amicable agreement with his employer over suitable childcare arrangements. Jamie Reid was not sacked for gross misconduct charges such as theft, assault, taking drugs or under the influence of alcohol at work- Jamie Reid has simply been sacked for caring for his son, as a single father on a day he was left with no choice due to the failure of his employer to acknowledge numerous cries for help.  Jamie had raised his concerns over a two-year period, and these were swept aside and blatantly ignored. 

Jamie Reid played a pivotal role as a leading RMT Rep in the 2023 pay negotiations that led to an unprecedented 21% pay increase plus many other benefits for all Rail Gourmet staff employed on this contract. Besides being a rock at the negotiating table, Jamie was instrumental in organising strong industrial action across the whole contract during that dispute delivering 7 days of rock solid strike action in pursuit of making significant improvements to your pay and conditions as outsourced workers. It is for this very reason alone that your employer now wants to make an example of him by dismissing him unjustly and unfairly by terminating his contract of employment; dressing it up as gross misconduct on trumped up breaches of Health and Safety. They want him out of the way prior to 2024 pay negotiations commencing. 

Rail Gourmet have a track record of sacking RMT representatives and Jamie isn’t the first. RMT members must make a strong stand against this. Our dispute is no longer about an individual but is now an attack on the RMT and more importantly the representatives you elect to negotiate with your employer on your behalf. If we allow your employer to get away with this act of callous union busting, then we are letting them take away the ability of our elected representatives to negotiate any future pay deals on your behalf. If we allow Rail Gourmet to get away with this then how long will it be before we have no reps left on the contract and others would then likely boycott the role of representative, in fear for their future employment through the same bullying and intimidation tactics used to dismiss Jamie. We must stand strong and use everything in our armoury to defend against this; up to and including industrial action if necessary. 

I represented Jamie Reid at his appeal against dismissal and I can say with 100% confidence that more than enough mitigation was offered in Jamie’s defence at this hearing to overturn this injustice of dismissal. I would urge all members on this contract to stand behind your union and vote YES to both questions on the ballot paper and return it in the free post envelope as soon as possible. An injury to one in the RMT is an injury to all - let’s stand as one and overturn this injustice through the ballot box. 

If you haven’t yet received a ballot paper, then please email ballot@rmt.org.uk or telephone 0800 376 3706.

#JusticeForJamie

In Solidarity

Steve Shaw
RMT Regional Organiser

North West, North Wales & Eire regions