WMT - Have your say on 2022 Pay

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Have your say on 2022 pay

Most TSSA members at West Midlands Trains have not seen a pay rise since 2020, the second year of the 2019 two-year deal. Since then, inflation has skyrocketed, and the detailed impact of the Government plan for rail reform, "Great British Railways: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail" published in May 2021, is still to be determined. Members face an uncertain and insecure future and an increasingly challenging present.

Your reps are preparing to set out our claim for improvements to pay and conditions and they need your help. You are invited to share your priorities in our WMT members' pay survey which closes on 21 March. Please have your say today and give your reps your backing to negotiate a good deal for members. 

Members have seen significant increases in the cost of living since our last pay deal, with the highest Retail Price Index (RPI) in thirty years at 7.8% (January 2022 figure) forecast to rise in the coming months, eroding the value of your wages.

Meanwhile, the industry has attempted to encourage staff to leave with a divisive voluntary severance scheme which was imposed without our agreement. The Department for Transport and industry leaders failed to renew the commitment to no compulsory redundancies which expired at the end of 2021, creating fears that rail jobs are likely to be under attack in the coming months when detailed rail reform plans are published.

Despite the Government promising record investment in rail, with the £96bn integrated rail plan in the North and Midlands committing to spending on new construction and upgrades, the Department for Transport, Train Operating Companies and Network have failed to commit to supporting today's railway. Rumours of plans to cut two billion pounds from staff costs persist.  

TSSA members at West Midlands Trains are invited to have your say in our pay claim survey. WMT staff have three pay anniversary dates:

• 1 April - General Grades, including Clerical, Supervisory, Technical and admin (including DTCM and Controller Grades)
• 1 July - Management Grades PM1 and PM2
• 1 October - Driver Managers   

Your reps will use your survey responses to produce our written claim which we will present to the company on your behalf at the start of negotiations. Based on your feedback, reps will be able to decide whether to submit specific demands for different grade groups or a common position across the company. 

The strength of our negotiating position is always determined by the democratic and industrial mandate of our members; if a large proportion of staff are members who confirm that they have a clear demand, your reps are more able to achieve success. In this way, every member who has a say in our pay claim survey and every colleague who joins our union will have a direct impact on our ability to ensure that your wages aren't eroded by inflation and that your terms and conditions are as good as you deserve.

The survey will close at 0800 (8am) Monday 21 March.

Make sure you use your voice and vote today. Please share this message with your colleagues.

Please encourage fellow members to have their say and anyone not in a union to join online today.