+ 2022 Block A/L Sheets have been posted on the notice board leading to the
+ LDC office and have been emailed out.
+
+
+ As usual, we won't accept swaps until 00:00 on 01/11/2021. This is to
+ ensure everyone has a chance to see the new leave sheets before swaps begin.
+
The Linking process has begun for December 2021 Links
+
+ Today, we began the linking process. We first need to review all new
+ diagrams and request approval of any changes we would like to make.
+
+
+ This year, we had to agree Cover turns locally which took a little longer
+ than expected. We also have minor concerns around the suitability of
+ diagrams for some flexible workers.
+
+
+ There are also a couple of diagrams that we would like to make adjustments
+ to. These adjustments first need to be approved by the Senior Guards'
+ Manager before being passed to the Roster Managers for final approval.
+
+ While we won't send out diagrams, as they are currently drafts and are
+ subject to change, we do have office copies - as well as a summary - which
+ you can look at if you would like. Just give one of us a call first to make
+ sure we are in the office when you would like to pop up.
+
RMT, along with TSSA and ASLEF have been seeking
+agreements that our terms and conditions will note be changed
+detrimentally, to ensure catering on trains doesn’t continue to be
+removed, to ensure ticket offices aren’t cut, to ensure thousands
+of Network Rail engineering colleagues aren’t sacked and replaced
+with lower skilled agency workers that will impact the overall safety
+of rail operations, and to ensure guards remain on trains where they
+do so currently. While securing a pay rise is part of the action
+being taken, it is far from the only reason that the action is being
+taken.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Who is striking?
+
All grades represented by RMT are striking. This
+includes, catering, guards, drivers, stations, office staff and more
+are involved.
+
Members that are not part of RMT can also strike.
+This means ASLEF drivers, TSSA and UNITE staff can also strike with
+exactly the same protection as RMT members as from the perspective of
+the RMT these people are ‘non-members’ who are afforded the same
+protection as members.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Why
+are we striking now rather than calling an overtime ban?
+
The NEC made the decision to strike for three days
+in one week is to show the employers and the Government that we are
+willing to take serious action to resolve the dispute. There is
+currently no intention to strike for three days every fortnight as
+some rumours are saying. Any further action will be communicated to
+all of us when the decision has been made.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Do
+we have to strike?
+
No, you
+are not required to strike. However the more people involved in the
+action, the quicker a solution is likely to be found. Only you can
+make the decision whether to strike.
+
The union
+is made up of rail, transport and maritime employees and officials
+elected by us all, the decision to strike was made by the members and
+the days were chosen by the NEC which is made up of employees, each
+representing a region/sector.
+
There is
+also a chance that we will not end up going on strike if an agreement
+is reached between RMT’s elected officials and GWR.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Will
+I lose pay on the strike days?
+
If you
+are scheduled to work, you will not be paid for agreed strike days if
+you do not work. If you are RD then you will not have pay deducted.
+If you booked annual leave before the strike action was announced
+then this should be honoured by the company, however it is extremely
+unlikely additional leave beyond agreed minimums will be offered.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Can
+I book leave on the strike days to protect my income?
+
You are free to book ad-hoc leave for the strike
+days however it is not at all likely that it will be granted.
+
There is not enough notice for you to swap your
+leave in to any vacancies in the block leave sheets.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Will
+there be a picket line?
+
Picket
+lines will be at Bristol Temple Meads, Bath, Weston-Super-Mare,
+Bristol Parkway, St Phillips Marsh and NR Bristol Engineering. You
+can only be an official picket at the place that you work however you
+can go to any picket line as a supporter.
Do
+I need to come to work or join a picket line on the strike days?
+
No, you
+do not need to. You are welcome to join a picket line but there is
+no requirement for you to do so. If you would like to join or
+support a picket, email us or bristol@rmt.org.uk
+for more information.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Do
+I have to tell my manager if I am striking?
+
No, your
+manager does not have to know if you are striking or even if you are
+a member of the RMT. If a manager – or RMT official – asks if
+you intend to strike, it is up to you whether you tell them. You do
+not have to inform resources, you simply do not turn up for work on
+the strike days.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Who
+is involved in the upcoming strike action?
+
The
+strike involves RMT members from:
+Network Rail, Chiltern
+Railways, CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway,
+c2c, GWR, Northern, South Eastern, SWR, TransPennine Express, Avanti
+West Coast, and West Midlands Trains.
+
Members
+at GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway which includes Southern, Gatwick
+Express, Great Northern and Thameslink Trains), voted only for action
+short of a strike and will be on an overtime ban from 21st
+- 26th June. They are being re-balloted for strike
+action.
+
+
+
+
+
+
I
+am not a member of the RMT, should I strike?
+
The more
+people that take action, the sooner a solution is likely to be found.
+ Every member of the balloted grades has the same protection, whether
+they are an RMT member, a member of another union or not a union
+member. This includes ASLEF drivers, as well as TSSA and UNITE
+staff.
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+manager has asked to take over my train for them to refresh should I
+stop them?
+
You
+should not go against the request of someone who manages you. You
+can decline to hand over the train if you wish if you have a good
+reason to do so such as having a trainee with you or because you are
+being assessed/assessing.
+
+
+
+
+
+
I
+am in my probationary period, can I strike?
+
Yes, all
+grades represented by RMT can strike. You are legally protected by
+being part of the union, whether you are in a probationary period or
+not. This also includes apprentices who were also included in the
+ballot.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Will
+taking action affect my future job prospects within GWR?
+
No, your
+employer is not allowed to hold strike action against you. If you
+ever feel like you have been victimised because of past industrial
+action you should speak to the relevant union rep.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Is
+there any financial support by the union?
+
If you
+feel that you need financial support to take strike action, this
+needs to be discussed with your local Branch, in the case of Bristol
+TM Conductors this is Bristol Branch. They can be contacted at:
+bristol@rmt.org.uk. The
+Branch is looking to create a hardship fund which can be used to
+support anyone who is not able to strike due to loss of income.
+
+
+
+
+
+
The
+guidance isn't clear on the position of those in training (not just
+probation) - are we expected to strike?
+
Question
+continued:
+As we lack any kind of competency, showing up
+is of no benefit to the company. I don't want to cross a picket line,
+but have been advised by a seemingly knowledgeable RMT member that we
+wouldn't be expected to strike as we currently don't really count as
+workers (that is my clumsy wording, not theirs).
+
If you are an RMT member, you were included in the
+ballot and the industrial action. Ultimately the decision whether to
+strike or not lies with you. If you do decide not to strike you
+should discuss with your manager what you are expected to do, you may
+– for example – be asked to assist with customer service.
+
It is a difficult question that I cannot give a
+simple, easy answer to as there will be some colleagues that would
+expect you to join with the strike and others that wouldn’t. I
+recommend discussing the issue with others in the same position, feel
+free to discuss in confidence with any RMT rep as well, before making
+your decision. Sorry that I can’t give a more specific answer to
+the question and I appreciate that is doesn’t clear anything up for
+you.
Further strike days will be taken by RMT members on:
+ 27/07/2022
+ 18/08/2022
+ 20/08/2022
+
+
For TOC members, the strikes run from 00:00 to 23:59 on those days, do not book
+ on for any duty between these times. If you have booked on before 00:00 you should
+ continue to work the end of your duty.
+
+
It is important the we keep the same momentum of the previous strike days in June,
+ with other industries announcing strikes it is expected that there will continue
+ to be a good level of support from the public.
+
+
ASLEF have also announced a strike on 30/07/2022. You can show solidarity and support
+ their picket line. We did have ASLEF members missing work to support our pickets.
+
+
+
+
+
Update: Thursday 23/06/2022
+
Join your colleagues on the picket line from 0600-1800 on
+ Saturday 25/06.
+
Once again, there was a great atmosphere on the picket line with more supporters
+ coming to show solidarity and an even greater responce from the public. We also had supporters from ASLEF,
+ FBU (Fire Brigate Union) and Teachers from NEW (National Education Union) and members from UCU (University & Colleges Union),
+ ACORN (A Local Comminity Union), Student Unions and many more.
+
All of the images in this update are licensed with Creative Commons and can be shared freely
+ as long as they are attributed to me and not edited - particularly important if they are used in the media.
Join your colleagues on the picket line from 0600-1800 on
+ Thursday 23/06 and Saturday 25/06.
+
There was a great atmosphere on the picket line today with supporters
+ from several other Unions coming to show solidarity including UNITE, UNISON and
+ NEU (National Education Union). The RMT has also had messages of support from
+ the Firefighters Union and NHS unions among others.
+
The Bristol Picket Line has already featured in Bristol Live, Bristol Post,
+ The Mirror, ITV News, and BBC News.
+
We had huge support from the public
+ and from local businesses who brought us food and drinks throughout the day.
+
Other industries are also balloting to strike and we have the support of those
+ Unions and we will support them
+
There will be further updates after Thursdays picket
+