RMT to ballot for industrial action.

[whole diary]

[SDS]

Mitie staff get.... minimum wage (and not the London living wage neither)

Mitie staff dont get.
Travel Benefits
Pension
Sick Pay
Residential Travel to and from work.
Decent wages

[ChrisB]

I thought SSP (sick pay) was statutory?....

[paul7575]

I thought SSP (sick pay) was statutory?....

I didn't think payment for residential travel was permitted unless you were 'mobile'.  For anyone with a single place of work it isn't allowed.

Not enough detail in the previous post to know what it concerns really...

Paul

[TaplowGreen]

I thought SSP (sick pay) was statutory?....

I didn't think payment for residential travel was permitted unless you were 'mobile'.  For anyone with a single place of work it isn't allowed.

Not enough detail in the previous post to know what it concerns really...

Paul

....and all employers will have to offer workplace pensions, as for "travel benefits", I'm guessing these only apply to TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) employees?, the cleaners are employed by MITIE so why should that be FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s problem?
So overall the Unions should be lobbying MITIE who employ them, not the TOC............in any case this would all have been in the original contract between FGW & MITIE so why threaten strike action now?

[ChrisB]

Need for more members....

[TaplowGreen]

Need for more members....

......and perhaps certain people looking to make a temporary/interim Union job permanent by impressing the comrades?

[ellendune]

the cleaners are employed by MITIE so why should that be FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s problem?
So overall the Unions should be lobbying MITIE who employ them, not the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)............in any case this would all have been in the original contract between FGW & MITIE so why threaten strike action now?

If there is a strike and MITIE cannot provide a service it is FGW's problem. 

The theory behind outsourcing is that you should outsource something if it is not your core business.  So if you are running a bank outsourcing the office cleaners makes sense.  In the more enlightened companies the contracts even include minimum terms of employment.  This is because they recognise that if you treat your workers like dirt you will not get the best result.

However, some companies take it too far to the extent that they are just a management company employing a very few staff directly who manage (or sometime not even manage - just pay the bills) the outsourced contracts. In this case you wonder if the company is adding value at all.

So the questions are -

1) is cleaning trains core to FGW's activities? I think you could validly argue it both ways.
2) is the standard of cleaning acceptable?

I thought SSP (sick pay) was statutory?....

It is for those above a certain number of hours per week. But it is not as generous as some company schemes.

[SDS]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Company sick pay
up to 5 years railway service - 13 weeks at 100% of basic salary. Then 50% of basic salary for another 13 weeks plus SSP, then SSP only.
Over 5 years railway service - 26 weeks at 100% of basic salary. Then 50% of basic salary for another 26 weeks plus SSP, then SSP only.

Of course you can technically take your 31 days annual leave while to add another month and a bit at full pay.
-----
Mitie staff get
Nothing for the first 3 days of any sickness, then SSP.
----

When I was referring to residential travel, I meant the 75% discount season ticket.
In regards to pensions, I am aware of NEST. However this doesn't stop mitie from encouraging staff who do not understand from 'opting out'.

....and all employers will have to offer workplace pensions, as for "travel benefits", I'm guessing these only apply to TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) employees?, the cleaners are employed by MITIE so why should that be FGW's problem?
So overall the Unions should be lobbying MITIE who employ them, not the TOC............in any case this would all have been in the original contract between FGW & MITIE so why threaten strike action now?

Not if your earnings are below a certain limit, or if creative accounting makes it look like your earning below the limits.

[a-driver]

1005 votes received.
580 voted 'yes' for strike action, 419 voted 'no'
(6 papers spoilt)

[JayMac]

Is there a turnout percentage?

[ChrisB]

Sounds as though a constructive meeting was held last Friday, although there's little or no chance of reinstatement for those two requested.

[insider]

If RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) wanted to they really could cause some chaos by adding FGW^▸ (First Great Western) strike to the dates below.........

Extract from RMT Website
RMT declares new tube strike dates as London Underground wreck talks and confirm even worse cuts to jobs, services and safety.


TUBE UNION RMT today confirmed five days of all-out strike action across London Underground as long-running talks hosted by ACAS, aimed at settling the dispute over cuts to jobs, ticket offices and safety, were wrecked by a combination of management intransigence and the introduction of additional measures that actually worsened the original toxic package. It has also been made crystal clear to the union that this is just a first tranche of cuts with even harder attacks being lined up for the near future.
 
As a result RMT members on London Underground have been instructed to take strike action as follows:
 
all our members, excluding Fleet staff, not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
 
21:00 hours on Monday 28th of April 2014 until 20:59 hours on Wednesday 30th April 2014; and
 
21:00 hours on Monday 5th of May 2014 until 20:59 hours on Thursday 8th of May 2014.
 
All members employed in the Fleet grades will be instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
 
18.30 hours on Monday 28th of April 2014 until 18.29 hours on Wednesday 30th April 2014; and
 
18.30 hours on Monday 5th of May 2014 until 18.29 hours on Thursday 8th of May 2014.
 
Furthermore all members in the station grades are instructed not to work any rest days or overtime from 00.01 hours on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 until further notice.


And.....

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed strike action across Heathrow Express in response to a package of multi-million pound cuts which amount to an all-out assault on pay, jobs and safety.


Following a massive nine to one vote for action covering all grades, RMT has instructed Heathrow Express members:

^    Not to book on for any shifts of duty between 03.00 hours on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 until 02.59 hours on Thursday 1st May 2014

[The Tall Controller]

Turnout roughly 50% as I believe they have 2,000 members across FGW^▸ (First Great Western). Meaning around 25% of all members voted for action.

[SDS]

They wont be able to strike on the same day as HEx and LU because the legally required 7 days notice hasn't been lodged or if it has they have been very quiet about it.

[TaplowGreen]

Turnout roughly 50% as I believe they have 2,000 members across FGW^▸ (First Great Western). Meaning around 25% of all members voted for action.

....not much of a mandate for strike action is it? Shows how few of the brothers are really that bothered about it, just the usual hot air billowing from the upper tier......