NEWS.CATEGORY: Industrial
Strike Action 18 and 20 August: General Grades, Bands 5 to 8 and Controllers
As you are aware, TSSA General Grades, Bands 5 to 8 and Controller members will be taking strike action on 18 and 20 August. We informed Network Rail last week that TSSA members in the above grades are instructed not to commence work between:
02:01 on Thursday 18th August to 01:59 on Friday 19th August and
02:01 on Saturday 20th August to 01:59 on Sunday 21st August.
Do not start a shift between these times. If your shift starts before the strike action, but finishes during the strike action, then complete your shift.
You do not need to inform your manager that you are on strike or phone in on the strike day to say you are on strike. Network Rail should not be asking you if you are going on strike or asking if you are a TSSA member. If this happens, inform your TSSA Rep
At present there has not been any changes/improvements to the current pay offer for General Grades and Controllers from Network Rail. Suitable assurances from the company have not been received on job security or that proposed changes will not adversely affect our members. We will keep you informed of any progress.
How does this affect me if I am in Bands 1-4?
Bands 1-4 must undertake their normal day to day contractual duties and follow all reasonable management instructions.
You may wish to avoid volunteering to work additional duties or working hours (particularly where an additional, non-contractual payment is offered by the Company for undertaking such duties).
However, where you are contractually required to perform duties - either explicitly by your contract/job description or where you have an obligation to perform duties under reasonable management instructions, you must follow those instructions.
If in doubt, members should ask for written confirmation from their line manager as to whether they are obliged/expected to undertake the duty in question or whether it is purely voluntary, and you are therefore entitled to say no.
Members should not (at any time) during the dispute act in breach of their Contracts of Employment and should carry out their regular duties in line with that stated above.
In Solidarity,
Your TSSA Organising Team
