RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – CAF RAIL (WALES & BORDERS)

Our Ref: BR4/0001/CR(W&B)

 

25^th September 2024

 

STRIKE ACTION SUSPENDED

 

Dear RMT Member,

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – CAF RAIL (WALES & BORDERS)

 

Further to my letter dated 13^th September 2024, calling for CAF Rail members at Chester to take industrial action from this Sunday 29^th September, further discussions with your negotiating team and the company have taken place, resulting in an improved pay offer.

 

Having carefully considered the offer and the views of your Regional Organiser and representatives, the union’s National Executive Committee has taken the decision to SUSPEND ALL STRIKE ACTION AND INDUSTRIAL ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE, instructing all members to book on and work as normal for all shifts.

 

The amendments to the offer are as follows:

• The consolidation of the 37/42 additions into the basic pay as follows:
  • 20% of the current value consolidated effective 1^st April 2024
  • 25% of the remaining value consolidated effective 1^st January 2025
  • 33% of the remaining value effective 1^st January 2026
  • 50% of the remaining value effective 1^st January 2027
  • 100% of the remaining value effective 1^st January 2028

 

• Improvements to company sick pay for Product Support and Maintenance Engineers, effective from 1^st January 2025, in line with other grades so that their company sick pay is as follows:
  • 0 up to 6 months service Statutory Sick Pay 
  • 6 months up to 1 year service is 6 weeks full pay then 6 weeks half pay. 
  • 1 year up to 5 years’ service is 16 weeks full pay then 16 weeks half pay. 
  • 5 years’ service and over 26 weeks full pay then 26 weeks half pay

 

As a reminder, the original offer is as follows:

• A pay award of 5.2% (RPI for December 2023), effective from 1^st January 2024 for employees on CAF Terms
• A pay award of 4.3% (RPI for March 2024) for employees on TUPE/Chester Term contracts, effective from 1^stApril 2024. This is a nine-month pay offer, to align the anniversary date with 1^st January.
• A pay award of RPI -0.5% (using RPI for December 2024) effective from 1^st January 2025 
• First Aid and Fire Warden allowances: increase to £186 per annum effective from 1^st April 2024 and indexed in line with the agreed pay award from 1^st April 2025
• Claimable receipted allowance: increase to £45 per day and £50 for those travelling to London, from 1st April 2024
• Higher Grade Duty payments: at the difference between the person’s current rate of pay and the Production Manager rate of pay (currently the stated difference between Team Leader pay and Production Manager pay regardless of the rate of pay of the person ‘acting up’.) Effective from 1^st June 2024.
• Product Support Engineers: Shift Allowance to be introduced at 9.7% from 1^st July 2024 for working a two-shift system
• Engineering Grades: paid breaks within the 40-hour working week from 1^st July 2024

 

Family Friendly Policies:

• Emergency Leave: introduction of up to 1 weeks paid leave per calendar year to make emergency or unexpected arrangements for employees on CAF Terms (excluding those on Chester TUPE Terms)
• Maternity and Primary Adoption Leave increase: less than 2 years’ service - 10 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay, then statutory maternity pay; 2 years’ service and above - 20 weeks full pay, then 19 weeks half pay
• Premature Baby Policy: 1 extra day paid leave for each day a baby is born before 37 weeks, up to a maximum of 14 calendar days
• Parental Leave: statutory provisions to apply from day 1 of employment
• IVF Treatment: paid leave for a female undergoing IVF of up to 2 weeks in a 12-month period
• Paid Antenatal Appointments: expectant fathers can receive paid time off during shifts, 2 x appointments per pregnancy 
• Miscarriage Provision: up to 5 days paid leave

 

Click here to view the full offer from the company

 

The National Executive Committee has instructed me to hold an e-referendum of you and your colleagues with a recommendation to have your say on the improved offer, with a recommendation to vote ‘YES’ to accept the offer. 

 

The referendum will close at 11:00 am on Thursday 3^rd October 2024. 

 

Referendum Instructions

 

Members will shortly receive an email from 'RMT Referenda' which will allow you to register your vote. Please follow the instructions and make sure you complete this by no later than 11:00 am on Thursday 3^rd October 2024.

 

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR VOTE

 

VOTE ‘YES’ TO ACCEPT THE OFFER

 

If you know of any member who has not received their voting email or if you are having any difficulties voting, please contact referenda@rmt.org.uk or the RMT Helpline on 0800 376 3706. If you do not receive your vote immediately, please check your junk/spam folders before contacting us for a replacement.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary