UK RAILWAYS

publication date: 20 May 2004

May 20: RMT MEMBERS at Network Rail have voted to take industrial action
over pensions, two-tier travel concessions and pay (figures below).


The RMT executive will meet to decide what form that industrial action will
take after consulting Network Rail reps around the country over the next few
days.

Despite a venomous and misleading propaganda campaign by Network Rail, our
members have voted for action to defend their pension rights, to end
two-tier working conditions and for justice on pay, RMT general secretary
Bob Crow said today.

Network Rails directors are happy enough to hand themselves
telephone-number bonuses, but when it comes to the workforce it is a
completely different story.

Without a word of negotiation they have closed a decent pension scheme and
imposed a cheaper, inferior scheme no better than a glorified savings plan.

They have refused point-blank to discuss the two-tier conditions on travel
facilities, and they have told us there is no room for further discussion on
pay, and then pretended to be surprised when the talks broke down.

Our members have made it clear that their pensions are not an optional
luxury that can be cut to help boost the bosses bonus fund.

When we warned that even those left in the existing pension scheme would be
facing ever-increasing costs to keep their pension benefits, we were called
scare-mongers, but our members have seen through their Im alright Jack
campaign.

We remain ready to talk, and if the company is serious about avoiding
industrial action, Network Rail must now realise that they have to negotiate
seriously about these issues.

From today the RMT executive will be consulting local reps on a plan of the
most effective forms of industrial action, including co-ordinating action
with members being balloted over pay and conditions on London Underground,
Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: Those voting for action were 2,947, (58 per cent) those
against, 2,246 (42 per cent). There were 7,734 ballot papers distributed and
a 68 per cent turnout.

Network Rail has closed its final-salary pension scheme to new members and
imposed an inferior and cheaper money-purchase scheme on new starters.

The company has refused to negotiate on travel facilities. Those who joined
before April 1 1996 get comprehensive travel concessions, including 75 per
cent discount on all rail fares and up to 20 free journeys a year in
addition to free travel up to 40 miles to work. Those who joined after that
date get nothing.

Concessionary travel on British railways is available to Irish rail workers,
British Transport Police and ferry workers on Stena Line, among others, and
London Underground has just agreed to re-imburse 75 per cent of rail-travel
costs for post-1996 employees. Network Rail bosses retain their first-class
concessionary rail travel after retirement.

g0ldstarr wrote in message
news:...

Im Alright Jack - Fred Kite - Am I missing something here ???