Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2023 – Carlisle Support Services (Northern Trains Revenue and Gateline Contract)

Our Ref: BR1/0001/CSS(NTL)

23^rd January 2024

 

Dear Colleagues 

 

Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2023 – Carlisle Support Services (Northern Trains Revenue and Gateline Contract)

 

Please find a message from your Lead Officer, Steve Shaw:

 

“By now you will be aware we entered into a dispute with your employer during the first week of January on multiple issues regarding your rates of pay and the failure of the TimeGate application used by your employer to calculate your pay and annual leave allowance. 

 

These are long standing issues that your union, the RMT, has been campaigning on for many years now, on your behalf. It is your employers continued failure to address these important issues that has led to this dispute situation.

 

Your employer Carlisle Support Services are refusing to engage with your union on any of these issues claiming they don’t recognise us, although on many previous occasions when it suits in the past, they have chosen to recognise us on collective issues such as pay and conditions when it benefits them. Just to be clear - rail workers belong in rail unions. The recognised trade union and only rail union that recognises all grades for rail workers is the RMT. We welcome all workers on this contract into our union and we are pleased most of you have chosen us to represent your best interests as core rail workers. 

 

In terms of rates of pay the RMT developed and agreed an outsourced worker’s charter in 2023 where our demands to employers are now £15 p/h for all rail workers on outsourced contracts. We believe this to be the minimum hourly rate acceptable given the cost-of-living crisis that we now find ourselves in because of government failings and the covid pandemic. Our aims and objectives as an industrial trade union will always be to advance members pay and conditions- we can only make these advances with the weight of the everyone behind us.

 

We have witnessed some appalling behaviour from your employer during previous RMT ballots for industrial action. Threats of deportation and the revocation of work permits for migrant workers on this contract have been used by Carlisle Support Services in a blatant act of bullying and intimidation to deter you from your legal right to support industrial action whilst legally working in the UK. 

 

Let me offer you assurances and put your mind at rest that this type of talk is merely designed to further supress and exploit you as outsourced migrant workers, working in fear of your futures and your family’s wellbeing. We cannot tolerate any repetition of this type of conduct as an industrial trade union fully supportive of migrant workers working in the UK without fear or prejudice from employers. Any instances of this type of conduct must be reported to the RMT straight away and you will receive full legal support in bringing about a claim for racial discrimination against your employer should this underhanded tactic be used again.

 

I would urge all Carlisle Support Services RMT members to vote yes to both questions on the ballot paper when it arrives, so as to offer us every chance of defeating the workplace injustice that is taking place right under your noses with the continued theft of your legal allowance for paid annual holidays; the continuation of employing staff on “336” contracts which in many instances are worse than zero hour contracts and belong back in the Victorian era where people had to beg for work rather than being employed on permanent contracts; and of course the refusal to pay you a wage that reflects the current cost of living crisis. 

 

Collective action is the only way to defeat a sub-contractor such as Carlisle Support Services. We have witnessed successful outcomes on outsourced rail contracts such as Rail Gourmet members who took 7 days strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions and were rewarded with a 21% pay increase and improvements to their working conditions by standing together and not wilting to any pressure from the employer. 

 

Bidvest cleaners on another outsourced rail contract will be taking strike action over 48-hours next weekend following member’s rejection of a 14% pay offer. 

 

These are just two examples amongst many others of what can be achieved when workers take collective action against a hostile employer intent on driving down your wages and conditions. Stand together and we will defeat your employer.

 

A strike rally will take place outside your employers HQ on Tuesday 23^rd Jan at 83 Fountain Street, Manchester 12pm-4pm. I would urge all members to do your utmost to attend and show your support.

 

Ballot papers will go to your home address from Friday 19^th January, and you will be asked to vote for both strike action and action short of strike - I would urge everyone to vote YES TO BOTH QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT PAPER.

 

UNITED WE WILL MAKE CHANGE

 

In Solidarity

 

 

Steve Shaw

RMT Regional Organiser”

 

Additionally, please find a video message regarding the current dispute at Carlisle Support Services. The video can be accessed HERE

 

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch

General Secretary