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Author Topic: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend  (Read 288 times)
TaplowGreen
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« on: August 09, 2025, 08:00:32 »

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/rail-strikes-resume-with-bank-holiday-shutdown-on-crosscountry-trains/ar-AA1K5wZZ?ocid=socialshare

.........largely, it would seem, to be about a reluctance amongst the bruvvers to scan electronic tickets  Roll Eyes
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stuving
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« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2025, 13:13:34 »

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/rail-strikes-resume-with-bank-holiday-shutdown-on-crosscountry-trains/ar-AA1K5wZZ?ocid=socialshare

.........largely, it would seem, to be about a reluctance amongst the bruvvers to scan electronic tickets  Roll Eyes

Obviously that's not RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)'s way of seeing things - even if that 3p-per-scan is the most specific claim:
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The RMT Union’s AGM (Annual General Meeting) has considered the matter and acknowledged the severity of this situation.  It is clear that there is now a breakdown in industrial relations, which includes the following serious issues:

    Undermining of safety-critical roles: Despite previous agreements, the company is actively trying to reverse the requirement for two Train Managers on double sets, threatening both safety and jobs.
    Breach of staffing agreements: Cross Country has failed to recruit the agreed number of Train Managers and intends to reverse an agreement allowing them to have the ability to go back and utilise catering staff to cover essential Guard duties. These actions also highlight the company's intentions for the future of catering on the network. The RMT cannot allow catering staff to be utilised in this manner. The company should enter into dialogue with the RMT to ensure that we have a catering service that is robust, delivers for passengers, and protects the employment of staff. It is unacceptable for Cross Country to simply remove jobs without any form of consultation with this union. Yet this is exactly what the company has done, with no attempt made to resolve the issue. This attack on the catering provision only deepens the fears of members that this approach to job cuts could cascade into multiple disciplines, putting wider job security at risk. We cannot accept this blatant attack on jobs and the ‘redundancy by stealth’ method. This practice must cease immediately, and urgent discussions must take place with the RMT on how to improve catering services across the network.
    Misuse of management grades: Management staff not authorised under agreed arrangements are regularly performing Guard duties, undermining agreements and frontline staff.
    Excessive payments to managers: Managers are reportedly receiving up to £250 per train on top of their salaries, another breach of an agreement, while also refusing to negotiate fair overtime and rest day enhancements for frontline grades.
    Failure to provide Rest Day Working proposals: Cross Country has failed to table proposals for Rest Day and Weekend Working enhancements for all grades, breaching commitments made during previous dispute resolution.
    Pay inequality: The company continues to pay different rates to staff doing the same job and has refused to honour its promise to resolve this issue.
    Failure to implement agreed ticket scanning payments: An agreed 3p-per-scan payment has not been implemented, and the company are refusing to pay the agreed amount without justification, which only shows the company’s lack of respect for agreed outcomes.
    Victimisation of RMT representatives: Union reps have been targeted and undermined simply for carrying out their legitimate duties on behalf of members.
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Bob_Blakey
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« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 08:42:43 »

Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or have they been agreed more widely? I don't recall seeing them mentioned before.

It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 08:46:32 »

Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or have they been agreed more widely? I don't recall seeing them mentioned before.

It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.

I too did a double take when I first read about additional payments for ticket scanning but to your (well made) point, this is the railway, which does not always replicate the normal world, particularly when viewed through the lens of the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers).
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stuving
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« Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 09:58:35 »

Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or have they been agreed more widely? I don't recall seeing them mentioned before.

It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.

AIUI ('as I understand it'), the origin of this is that selling tickets earned a commission. As e-tickets replace the ones that needed selling by staff, that income stream dries up, and this is a sort of replacement. It looks to me more like a token substitute than a value for value one, but that's what you get once horses start to be traded in negotiations. And holding management to do what they have agreed is one of the primary functions of a union, isn't it?
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Clan Line
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« Reply #5 on: Yesterday at 10:39:20 »

If selling tickets on the train earns a commission why does there seem to be a marked reluctance by on board train staff to venture out and do so ?
I travelled from WMN» (Warminster - next trains) to CDF» (Cardiff - next trains) last week, amongst other things: half length train (2 car 158), no air con.......... the guard made absolutely no appearance between WMN and BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains). I assume there was one, as someone was opening/closing the doors en route. After BRI (new crew ??) the guard appeared, not only checking tickets but she opened the windows !!

3p to scan each ticket ? Ye Gods !!
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grahame
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« Reply #6 on: Yesterday at 11:05:49 »

If selling tickets on the train earns a commission why does there seem to be a marked reluctance by on board train staff to venture out and do so ?

"We're not checking/selling tickets on this journey - we don't actually have the equipment to do so with us" ... first hand comment to me, and recent.
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Clan Line
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« Reply #7 on: Yesterday at 11:19:44 »

If selling tickets on the train earns a commission why does there seem to be a marked reluctance by on board train staff to venture out and do so ?

"We're not checking/selling tickets on this journey - we don't actually have the equipment to do so with us" ... first hand comment to me, and recent.

 Ye Gods²  !!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #8 on: Yesterday at 11:21:30 »

Years ago, I heard a similar reason given by conductors (or whatever they were called, back then) who were issued with Avantix (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) Mobile machines: "Sorry, I can't do that - the battery has just died".

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« Reply #9 on: Yesterday at 19:11:09 »

If selling tickets on the train earns a commission why does there seem to be a marked reluctance by on board train staff to venture out and do so ?

I travelled Bristol TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) - Paddington yesterday (Sat 9/8/25) in 1st Class. Quiet 0700 train. No sign of the TM for the entire journey. Which savesld me the £20 Weekend 1st upgrade.

I had a few rounds of refreshments from the host. Perhaps GWR (Great Western Railway) should empower their hosts to take upgrades. I did offer, but he said to wait for the TM.
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trainbuff
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« Reply #10 on: Yesterday at 22:33:39 »

Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or have they been agreed more widely? I don't recall seeing them mentioned before.

It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.

I believe Transport for Wales pay an amount per scan
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« Reply #11 on: Yesterday at 22:51:12 »

If selling tickets on the train earns a commission why does there seem to be a marked reluctance by on board train staff to venture out and do so ?

I travelled Bristol TM (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) - Paddington yesterday (Sat 9/8/25) in 1st Class. Quiet 0700 train. No sign of the TM for the entire journey. Which savesld me the £20 Weekend 1st upgrade.

I had a few rounds of refreshments from the host. Perhaps GWR (Great Western Railway) should empower their hosts to take upgrades. I did offer, but he said to wait for the TM.

Double unit and the guard stayed in the back.

I think the crux, or at least the majority of it, in this dispute is that collective bargaining with the employer is practically non-existent. The business and the union agree in principle in the room and the mandarins at the DfT» (Department for Transport - about) and Treasury hold the purse strings and the ultimate say.
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