CARLISLE CITY RMT

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
Carlisle City Branch (0299)
www.carlislecityrmt.org
Chair: Craig Johnston
From Mark Eilbeck – Branch Secretary
3 Blundell Street, Harraby, Carlisle, CA1 3BQ
Telephone – 07908 521 392

Minutes of the meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT held in the 7 October 2008 at 18.30 hrs in the Walkabout Bar, Botchergate, Carlisle.

Members Present – Mick Cash (Senior Assistant General Secretary of the RMT), Tony Bell, Stuart Turner, C. White, Michael Winthrop, Stephen Troughear, Paul Nicholson, Alan Hunter, Peter Ewing, Francis Kerr, D. Fleming, C. English, Paul Ferry, M. Foster, D. Phillips, Alan Hetherington, Ashley Bell, Iain Cavanagh, Sean Dixon (Secretary Workington RMT Branch), W. Edgar, M. Scott, P. Phillips(Newcastle and Gateshead Branch) S. Herschel (Newcastle and Gateshead Branch) G. Semous (Newcastle and Gateshead Branch) D. Thompson, Peter Richardson, Paul Ware, Alan Johnson, Scott Nelson, Brian Downie, D. Strachan, A. Armiger, N. Farish, G. Watt, S. Hind, R. Harkness, Steve Aidey, Kevin Roach, Danny Brennan, John Winthrope, Karl Norendal, Mark Eilbeck (Branch Secretary) Craig Johnston (Branch Chair) John Carruthers, Steve Bond (Warrington & District Branch).

Apologies were received from Donald Coupland, Tony Carrigan, Juan Guerrero, Peter Jeffery and Maurice Walker (Retired Member).

John Carruthers took the Chair as a Network Rail Staff Rep.

Guest Speaker – Mick Cash – Senior Assistant General Secretary – gave a detailed speech on the current situation with Network Rail in respect of harmonisation, industrial relations and the recent infrastructure dispute.

Members asked a number of questions in respect of the RMT strategy, communications and the principles governing how the RMT would move their agenda forward.

There was a general consensus that any future action should be on the basis of week long action rather than odd days or two and three day actions.
Members re-iterated that no one wanted to take industrial action however the managements dictatorial, aggressive and belligerent attitude had left members with no choice.

Craig Johnston said that in an attempt to improve communications all members attending the meeting from Carlisle City Branch would be added to the branch mailing list.

John Carruthers thanked members and Brother Cash for their attendance and adjourned the meeting.

Short Break

Craig Johnston took the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT held in the Kings Head, Fisher Street, Carlisle on 2 September 2008 were agreed.


Matters Arising – Nil

Letters from Head Office – Read and Noted – it was agreed to pass over the correspondence until the next meeting.

Letters from Regional Offices – Read and Noted.

Resolutions – in relation to Network Rail Rostering Agreements, Denial of the Network Rail Pay award 2008 and Defending Brother Chris Smart were all carried unanimously also carried unanimously was a resolution on the Northern Rail salary sacrifice scheme. Details of all four resolutions are below.

1) Dear Bob Crow,

Salary Sacrifice Scheme – Northern Rail

At the last meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT on 7 October 2008 the following resolution was carried unanimously –

“Carlisle City Branch expresses its dismay at the news that an RMT official agreed that all our members employed by the Northern TOC would automatically join the Northern salary sacrifice scheme unless they opted out of the opt out – we note that members of the aslef were asked positively to opt into the salary sacrifice scheme and believe the same should have applied to RMT members.
Whilst individuals may be a little better off on a weekly basis from being in the scheme there has been no definite advice from this union about all the implications of joining.
Further we note that Northern Rail will be extremely better off as an organisation through this scheme and we are bemused that our union would want to assist a cynical privateer to boost their profits”

Could you please bring this matter to the attention of the General Grades Committee?

We look forward to your response,

Best Wishes,

Yours fraternally,

Mark Eilbeck Craig Johnston

2) Dear Bob Crow,

Network Rail Rostering Arrangements

At the last meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT on 7 October 2008 the following resolution was carried unanimously -

“The members of the Carlisle City Branch ask the General Grades Committee to write to Network Rail, through the General Secretary, asking that this Union be fully involved in any changes to the role of roster clerk.
Brother Chris Smart from Manchester South Branch has informed this Branch that Network Rail is investigating the introduction of a rostering handbook. This handbook will be designed to give a proscriptive guide to our members employed in rostering.
The members affected are concerned that this document is being created without the involvement of this Union and the local level representatives. We ask that the lead negotiator remind Network Rail that any changes to working practices are to be progressed through the general collective bargaining procedure (GCBP).
We ask that the company is made fully aware that unless this document is progressed through the GCBP our members will not accept the document.
This Branch asks that our resolution is placed on record, that the General Grades Committee give this resolution full consideration and informs this branch of any decisions regarding this matter as soon as possible.


Could you please bring this matter to the attention of the General Grades Committee?

We look forward to your response,

Best Wishes,

Yours fraternally,

Mark Eilbeck Craig Johnston

3) Dear Bob Crow,

Denial of Network Rail Pay Award 2008

At the last meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT on 7 October 2008 the following resolution was carried unanimously -

“The members of the Carlisle City Branch ask the General Grades Committee to write to Network Rail, through the General Secretary, asking that the full 2008 pay award is afforded to all our members at the company.
This Branch has been informed by the members employed as roster clerks for LNW central of the situation where at least five members out of six have not received the full pay award. Two members have been informed by the company that as they were not employed on the 1 October 2007 they will not receive any rise in their basic pay this year. Three members have apparently had their pay award reduced to 2% for unfair reasons. This branch believes that every member should be paid the negotiated rise.
This Branch asks that our resolution is placed on record, that the General Grades Committee give this resolution full consideration and informs this Branch of any decisions regarding this matter as soon as possible”

Could you please bring this matter to the attention of the General Grades Committee?

We look forward to your response,

Best Wishes,

Yours fraternally,

Mark Eilbeck Craig Johnston

4) Dear Bob Crow,

Defending Brother Chris Smart

At the last meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT on 7 October 2008 the following resolution was carried unanimously -

“The members of the Carlisle City Branch ask the General Grades Committee to write to Network Rail, through the General Secretary, advising the company that this Union is aware and concerned about continuing attacks being made by the company against Brother Chris Smart.
Brother Smart informs us that he has suffered a 2.9% reduction in his pay award for 2008. He challenged the local managements decision to reduce his pay award through the Individual Grievance Procedure and the company has failed to resolve the matter. Part of Brother Smart’s grievance is that his line manager informed him that his trades union activities would affect his pay rise.
This Branch is concerned that Brother Smart faces unrelenting attacks by his employer which have been reported to this (and other branches) frequently in the past. We are concerned for Brother Smart and ask that the lead negotiator for Network Rail gives us an assurance that everything that can be done protect and defend Brother Smart is being done.
This Branch asks that our resolution is placed on record, that the General Grades Committee give this resolution full consideration and informs this branch of any decisions regarding this matter as soon as possible”

Could you please bring this matter to the attention of the General Grades Committee?

We look forward to your response,

Best Wishes,

Yours fraternally,

Mark Eilbeck Craig Johnston


Finance Report – apologies had been submitted for this meeting from the Treasurer Maurice Walker.

Grievances – Paul Ferry raised the issue of the Babcock Rail potential transfer of work from Carnforth to Preston.
It was agreed to monitor the situation closely – Paul Ferry agreed to keep Craig Johnston advised of any developments.

AOB - Nil

The next meeting of the Carlisle City Branch of the RMT will be held in the Kings Head Pub, Fisher Street, Carlisle on Tuesday 4 November 2008 at 19.00hrs