TIMEGATE SIGNING ON SYSTEM – OCS (ALSTOM AVANTI WEST COAST CONTRACT)

Our Ref: BR1/9/8

 

4 April 2024

 

 

Dear RMT Member

 

TIMEGATE SIGNING ON SYSTEM – OCS (ALSTOM AVANTI WEST COAST CONTRACT)

 

You will recall that a dispute arose last year when a number of concerns were raised by RMT members over Atalian Servest (now OCS) introducing the Timegate Signing On System as it had a severe negative impact upon staff.

 

The two main issues concerned staff being paid less when taking annual leave as the system was unable to correctly calculate the average over a 12-month period. The second issue was around the calculation of annual leave allocation, with the system unable to recognise which contractual arrangements staff are employed on.

 

You will also recall a ballot commenced on this issue which obviously focused management’s minds and this resulted in negotiations taking place and the company tabling proposals to resolve this dispute.

 

While your reps were in broad agreement with the proposals, they still sought clarity and required answers to a number of questions, and therefore a meeting was held last week to address these matters.

 

Richard Marshall the Director for Transport went through the letter and explained how the process would work. Your reps who attended were satisfied with the explanations, contents and the details of the letter provided by OCS and signalled agreement with the proposals.

 

A recommendation was therefore put to your union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) that the proposals be accepted and, thus, the dispute be resolved on the basis that a new process has been adopted going forward when it comes to members taking leave which ensures they are paid correctly. Your NEC endorsed that recommendation, and the dispute has been resolved.

 

I thank members for their steadfast determination throughout this dispute and it was such an attitude that brought improvements to the system and ensuring a just resolution.

 

I trust this fully updates you on the situation.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary