ROLE OF THE GUARD AND EXTENSION OF DOO SOUTHERN (GTR)

2nd November 2016

Our Ref: BR2/0146

ROLE OF THE GUARD AND EXTENSION OF DOO SOUTHERN (GTR)

NON PAYMENT OF HOLIDAY PAY.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK SOUTHERN COULDN’T GO ANY LOWER IN ATTACKING YOU AND MAKING THIS PERSONAL…………..

Dear Colleague,

Following on from Southern stopping your travel facilities, using the car parks and then encouraging customers to have a go at their own staff on Twitter – a spectacular own goal that just showed up this company for what it is – you’d have thought they couldn’t stoop any lower.

Well they have.

Having reached agreement with the union on both the calculation of holiday pay and when the payment would be made, Southern has written to me today advising that whilst they will make the payment to all other staff they are going to withhold it from Conductors until the dispute is over.

This is both pathetic and bullying.

In all the disputes we have had over the years the RMT has never had a company make it so personal against their own staff. Other companies, without doubt, were frustrated and possibly angry at the position the union and its members’ were taking but at least they treated their staff with dignity.

I am seeking legal advice on whether the company can do this but it would not be a surprise if they can. As you are aware the law is heavily weighted in favour of the employer and not the workers. I will let you know the advice once it is known.

Stand Firm
Support the Strikes
Support the Union
Support your Colleagues

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash
General Secretary