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suzyscottdotcomTaken from Rail News, this story updates the industrial action threads of the last few weeks. On a side note, following a post to the Tubegroup and GN-Gen railway groups, First Capital Connect are having their next online customer web forum at 1300 on Monday 14th December. So, if you've got the hump with management over the situation, you know what to do! This might be one of the more vocal for a while...
First Capital Connect has revealed that it has improved its pay offer to drivers, as the ban on rest day working and overtime nears the end of its third week. But now there's trouble on the horizon at Southern, where the RMT has called a strike ballot in a dispute over Christmas pay.
FCC has been running only half its normal service on the Thameslink route since 12 November, after drivers had withdrawn most voluntary working in protest at a pay offer which would have given them no rise in April 2009 and RPI+1 per cent or 3 percent, whichever iwas the greater, in April 2010.
Now FCC has improved its offer in talks with ASLEF, although it is declining to give any details. While the ASLEF response is awaited, the company is holding further talks this week with the RMT, Unite and TSSA. The company is also apologising to its passengers for the continuing emergency service.
Meanwhile trouble is brewing at Southern, where the RMT is to hold a strike ballot over the issue of pay for 28 December. Southern is proposing to treat it as a normal day, but the RMT is arguing that pay should be enhanced because it is a lieu day for Boxing Day. This falls on Saturday this year, making Monday a public holiday.
Southern said it did not believe that the union had any grounds for taking action, and that the company was complying fully with terms and conditions which had been agreed ‘in good faith’. It accused the RMT of asking for three bank holidays instead of two.
The result of the ballot will be known on 21 December, and if drivers are in favour industrial action could take place on 28 December itself.
Late News - this story on Railnews shows that not only are Southern members of the RMT balloting for a strike on the 28th, but ASLEF are too!
First Capital Connect has revealed that it has improved its pay offer to drivers, as the ban on rest day working and overtime nears the end of its third week. But now there's trouble on the horizon at Southern, where the RMT has called a strike ballot in a dispute over Christmas pay.
FCC has been running only half its normal service on the Thameslink route since 12 November, after drivers had withdrawn most voluntary working in protest at a pay offer which would have given them no rise in April 2009 and RPI+1 per cent or 3 percent, whichever iwas the greater, in April 2010.
Now FCC has improved its offer in talks with ASLEF, although it is declining to give any details. While the ASLEF response is awaited, the company is holding further talks this week with the RMT, Unite and TSSA. The company is also apologising to its passengers for the continuing emergency service.
Meanwhile trouble is brewing at Southern, where the RMT is to hold a strike ballot over the issue of pay for 28 December. Southern is proposing to treat it as a normal day, but the RMT is arguing that pay should be enhanced because it is a lieu day for Boxing Day. This falls on Saturday this year, making Monday a public holiday.
Southern said it did not believe that the union had any grounds for taking action, and that the company was complying fully with terms and conditions which had been agreed ‘in good faith’. It accused the RMT of asking for three bank holidays instead of two.
The result of the ballot will be known on 21 December, and if drivers are in favour industrial action could take place on 28 December itself.
Late News - this story on Railnews shows that not only are Southern members of the RMT balloting for a strike on the 28th, but ASLEF are too!
