Having settled its dispute with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in February, the TSSA trade union is threatening to restart it should the TOCs not honour the settlement deal.
Its members voted in January to take industrial action.
But while RMT and ASLEF continue to be in dispute with the operators, TSSA – which represents mainly clerical staff and managers – accepted a two-year pay offer below the current rate of inflation in February.
The settlement also contained a commitment from the companies to consult about future jobs and working conditions, which TSSA now accuses the companies of not carrying out.
TSSA wrote to the TOCs on 8 August, and has now written again to the five which did not reply: c2c, Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway, GWR and Southeastern.
TSSA will holding an online meeting of its workplace representatives at 5pm on Thursday (7 September) to discuss the next steps in its campaign against ticket office closures. It has asked the five TOCs to reply before then.
Interim General Secretary Peter Pendle said, “Frankly I had expected better manners and more professionalism from C2C, Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway, GWR and Southeastern. These companies are treating our members with contempt by failing to implement the deal and by not even responding to our letter.
“If the TOCs fail to honour the deal previously made with our members then we will be back in dispute. Simple as that.”
The full text of the letter is as follows:
4 September 2023
Re: Failure to Implement Dispute Resolution Agreement
I wrote to you on 08 August raising our concerns about the failure of your company to honour the deal you made with TSSA members in February this year. I have not received a response from you, so I am writing again to remind you of my main concerns.
I raised two main concerns, firstly about your direct failure to implement the Dispute Resolution Agreement for ‘General Grades' including stations-based grades, onboard grades, administrative grades, fleet and engineering grades, revenue protection and train service controllers as outlined in the agreement.
I also raised concerns around the consultation process itself. TSSA is committed to fully engage in this consultation process that you have instigated on workforce change and rail reform. We recognise that many things were still to be established at the local level. However, for this process to be meaningful, I must ask that you furnish our organisers and reps with the information they request that is key to the consultation such as equality impact assessments for staff, proposed new job descriptions with salaries and terms and conditions, and any other information requested. So far our members and staff are reporting that not all information has been made available for them to properly and meaningfully consult with those they represent. I also ask that you provide our Reps with enough paid release time, resources and access to colleagues for them to conduct their trade union duties for this consultation.
I ask that you please reply to this letter and confirm to me your commitment to implementing the Dispute Resolution Agreement in full, and assurances that you will provide all information, paid release, resources and access our TSSA Workplace Reps require to engage with your employees over your proposed changes.
I am happy to discuss this with you further if anything is unclear, please simply contact me.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Pendle
Interim (joint) General Secretary
