RMT has announced that it is stepping up its fight for Living Wage for staff working on the gateline at Northern Rail.
This is for the contract let out to outsourcing company, Carlisle Support Services.
RMT has been running a campaign for the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) rate to be paid for some time.
Northern are an LWF accredited employer but are allowing Carlisle to pay the staff the lower statutory minimum wage, not the real living wage.
Two issues underscore the hypocrisy of the Living Wage Foundation award:
- Carlisle are to pay their head office staff the LWF rate while ignoring the workers standing for hours on the freezing cold station barriers collecting the money in for Northern, while racking up the company profits.
- Carlisle will actively promote the LWF to their clients by submitting duel bids, one based on LWF rate, and one on minimum wage making a mockery of the whole idea of the Living Wage.
What did the officials say?
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“It is a disgrace that both Northern and their contractors, Carlisle, are tolerating the scandal of poverty pay while claiming to support the Living Wage. We are calling out that rank hypocrisy and demanding that both outfits get their house in order.
“It is also unbelievable that the Living Wage Foundation gave Carlisle a gong while this scandal rumbles on across the Northern franchise.
“RMT will be jacking up the public campaign and we won't stop fighting until the Carlisle Support Service staff secure pay justice.”
Where Next?
News Homepage
For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
Framed Prints, DVD's / Blu-Ray's and more
LocoStop Community
Come and share your railway pictures
RMT
Visit their website
Mainline Steam Info
The latest info on mainline steam tours/loco movements
Perhaps Northern should order more Class 195s to be used in the Northeast of England to help improve better rail services and to replace the Pacers but to keep the existing Sprinters DMUs.