OPERATIONAL DUTIES, TRAIN MANAGERS – AVANTI WEST COAST

Our Ref: BR2/14/2

 

25^th January 2024

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

OPERATIONAL DUTIES, TRAIN MANAGERS – AVANTI WEST COAST

 

I have received reports that Avanti West Coast have proposed several detrimental changes that would see responsibilities of the Train Manager grade diluted. 

 

This attack on the safety critical role of the Train Manager cannot be tolerated. It is worrying that off the back of the national dispute, in which you and your colleagues valiantly defended your terms and conditions, the company are proposing detrimental changes to the grade. Allowing these proposed changes would no doubt set in motion a tsunami of changes that attacks the vital train manager grade. 

 

As a Union, we wholly object to the company’s planned attack of the grade. The Union’s National Executive Committee has considered this matter and has instructed me to inform Avanti West Coast that we are now in dispute over these proposals which are outlined as follows:

 

1. The removal of shunting, coupling and hand signalling from the train managers responsibilities when working Pendolino Trains. 
2. The proposed changes to train preparation duties on Hitachi Trains. 

 

The NEC has also instructed me to ballot all Avanti West Coast Train Managers for industrial action to oppose these changes. It is imperative that we achieve the necessary ballot mandate to take industrial action. A successful mandate will give additional weight to this dispute and provide security to the operational duties of Train Managers. The company are already manoeuvring to propose further changes and an overwhelming mandate will put the union in the best possible position to face the forthcoming talks on currently unseen management propositions on pay, terms and conditions and the role and responsibilities of Train Managers. 

 

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 Avanti West Coast to bully the Train Manager Grade and force through detrimental changes. 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 Thursday 1^st February 2024 and will close on Thursday 22^nd February 2024.

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.

 

PROTECT YOUR GRADE

VOTE YES FOR STRIKE ACTION

VOTE YES FOR ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary