ECRO GRADING, SCOTLAND — NETWORK RAIL

Our Ref: BR5/2/2

 

29^th January 2024

 

BALLOT PAPERS HAVE BEEN DESPATCHED

 

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

ECRO GRADING, SCOTLAND — NETWORK RAIL

 

The union in Scotland have raised the issue of an upgrade due to the additional work and responsibilities you and your colleagues carry out, which would bring you in line with ECROs in England who have been upgraded.

 

Network Rail have failed to adequately address these issues through the machinery of negotiation, therefore the National Executive Committee has considered this matter and taken the decision to conduct a ballot in order to provide members with a mandate for industrial action in order to resolve this matter.

 

I am urging you and your colleagues to demonstrate that you will not allow this unfair treatment, by voting ‘YES’ for strike action and ‘YES’ for action short of a strike to demand that Network Rail cooperate with your representatives to address grading discrepancies in Scotland.

 

The relevant ballot notice has been served on the employer in line with current legislation, and the ballot papers will be dispatched by the independent scrutineer next Monday 29^th January 2024 and will be arriving at your home address after this date. 

 

The Ballot closes after First Post on Tuesday 20^th February 2024.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE ON BALLOT THRESHOLDS

 

Since the Trade Union Act 2016, where the government made the anti-trade union laws even more restrictive, all ballots have to reach two important thresholds in order for them to be valid. 

• At least 50% of all eligible members must vote 
• At least 40% of all those eligible to vote must vote Yes.  

 

As a result of these draconian restrictions every single vote counts. A simple majority is no longer enough so you cannot rely on other colleagues to get the vote over the line. Therefore, I urge you to complete and return your voting paper as soon as you receive it

 

If you have not received your voting paper by Wednesday 24^th January, please email info@rmt.org.uk or call the freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706 to request a replacement. The ballot closes after First Post on Tuesday 20^thFebruary 2024.

 

 

VOTE ‘YES’ FOR STRIKE ACTION

VOTE ‘YES’ FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION SHORT OF STRIKE 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary