TfW Rail Services Cardiff to Pontypridd relocation consultation update

Update for members on the proposed relocation from Cardiff to Pontypridd and the company’s refusal to honour your contractual entitlements.

We hope that this circular finds you as well as can be expected in the current circumstances. We understand how unsettled everyone may be feeling and apologise for the fact that it has been some time since you have had a direct update from us on this consultation.

The main reason for this delay is that we were hopeful that the company would be reasonable and recognise that many of you will be inconvenienced by extended commutes to and from the new Head Office and put in place a fair compensation package. Despite our best efforts the Social Partnership approach has let us and you down again.

We have made it very clear to the company that some of you have contractual entitlements for relocation purposes. In turn they have made it clear that the money specified in the Grant Agreement to cover your relocation costs has now been withdrawn. In order for us to ensure that you receive your contractual entitlements the legal advice that we have received is that you will need to either submit individual or collective grievances which may result in Employment Tribunal claims.

In the meantime we will set up a meeting with TfW to get their position to and beseech them to allow TfW RS to comply with their contractual obligations.

The TSSA management and clerical reps are doing an excellent job and recently organised a series of drop-in sessions which we hope you found useful. A common theme which emerged is the company’s apparent reluctance to allow you to work as flexibly as possible. They have provided no rationale as to why they require you to work from Pontypridd a minimum of 3 days and suspect that this is to satisfy the work-station quotas they have committed to!

TSSA is the only union which has collective bargaining rights for your grades so please join today to ensure that your voice is heard!