DISMISSAL, M McGREGOR, CRAIGENTINNY – HITACHI RAIL (LNER)

Our Ref: BR4/4/1

 

7 February 2024

 

 

Dear RMT Member

 

DISMISSAL, M McGREGOR, CRAIGENTINNY – HITACHI RAIL (LNER)

 

You will no doubt be aware by now that Hitachi Rail has taken the outrageous decision to sack your colleague Mark McGregor over a charge that he purchased tickets via the LNER portal. As you may also know, another member of staff has already owned up to this action and resigned from the company as a result.

 

However, instead of considering that another member of staff admitted the offence and whose resignation has already been accepted, Hitachi carried on with the process, ignored the rather obvious mitigating evidence and dismissed Mark.

 

I am sure you share my disgust and concern over this decision as it will do nothing to dampen what is an already tense industrial relations environment within the company. We therefore need to focus management’s minds and force a rethink over Mark’s dismissal. Your Regional Organiser submitted a report to your union’s National Executive Committee calling on RMT to declare a dispute over this matter and hold a ballot of Band C members at Craigentinny with the aim of returning Mark to his role. Your NEC endorsed this recommendation and formal notice has already been served on the company.

 

Ballot papers will be despatched to your home address from next Wednesday 14^th February 2024, with the ballot closing on Thursday 29^th February 2024. If you do not receive your voting paper by Tuesday 20^th February 2024, then contact the union’s Helpline on 0800 376 3706 or email info@rmt.org.uk.

 

Hitachi management should be under no illusions over the strength of feeling of Mark’s colleagues over his dismissal and hopefully the threat of industrial action will make them think again when his appeal hearing takes place at the end of this week.

 

When you receive your ballot paper, vote YES for strike action and YES for action short of a strike. Defend your sacked colleague and demand justice in the workplace!

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary