| Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:00, 9th August 2025 |     |
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
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by stuving at 13:13, 9th August 2025 | |
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
.........largely, it would seem, to be about a reluctance amongst the bruvvers to scan electronic tickets
Obviously that's not RMT's way of seeing things - even if that 3p-per-scan is the most specific claim:
The RMT Union’s AGM 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.
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.
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by Bob_Blakey at 08:42, 10th August 2025 | |
Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC 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 except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:46, 10th August 2025 | |
Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC 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 except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.
It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM 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.
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by stuving at 09:58, 10th August 2025 | |
Are these ticket scanning additional payments, which in a normal world would be regarded as a complete nonsense, specific to XC 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 except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.
It is my view that all format on-train ticket checks should be a contractual obligation on the Guard / Conductor / TM except when the activity would impinge on safety critical work.
AIUI, 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?
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by Clan Line at 10:39, 10th August 2025 | |
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 to CDF last week, amongst other things: half length train (2 car 158), no air con.......... the guard made absolutely no appearance between WMN and BRI. 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 !!
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by grahame at 11:05, 10th August 2025 | |
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.
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by Clan Line at 11:19, 10th August 2025 | |
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 !!
| Re: Crosscountry - RMT Industrial action over the Bank Holiday weekend Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:21, 10th August 2025 | |
Years ago, I heard a similar reason given by conductors (or whatever they were called, back then) who were issued with Avantix Mobile machines: "Sorry, I can't do that - the battery has just died".
