NEWS.CATEGORY: Industrial

Chiltern Reps and Member update 11 July 2023

We were all shocked to hear the news from the Rail Delivery Group last week that our agreement to withdraw our Industrial Action and agree to a pay agreement has been torn up.

Our interim General Secretary, Peter Pendle, has written in the strongest possible terms and we await further outcomes. Our national presence has been strong.

Our current priorities are “to listen to our reps”- a series of meetings are taking place where we are gathering information from reps about the feelings of our members so we can better encompass their views in our decision making.

“fight for those at risk”- there is a strong possibility that some more vulnerable members are going to be more at risk of disappointment and may not establish the favoured outcome that they may have hoped for.

“do what we can to resist and influence change”- we are campaigning already and you can support these campaigns in many different ways. Go to our campaign webpage. It includes materials and information that members can engage with and invite their friends and colleagues to engage with. The more work we put in the better the outcome.

Despite not yet receiving a settlement on pay from Chiltern Trains for general grades, it is clear that if we fail to engage with the business over their reorganisational plans, that they will impose them anyway. Therefore, if we do not engage with them and use our lawful collective rights to consultation, it would be the worst for our members. Therefore, I have been invited to a series of meetings to discuss and consult meaningfully on potential outcomes. The initial meeting will take place on Wednesday 12th July. It is our intention to attend and seek the best possible outcomes allowed. It is not so easy to tear-up agreements over business re-organisations but we are prepared for the fact that the business may seek to cheat our members again. So much for respecting the workforce.

In the meantime, please check the TSSA website for up-to-date positions regarding the Governments plans to withdraw booking offices. My contact details are, as ever, open for members to use to contact me anytime. I have a busy schedule but will get back to you.

Finally, look out for further communications.


Tony Wheeler

TSSA Organiser