TSSA writes to train companies over rail dispute

TSSA leader, Manuel Cortes, today wrote to thirteen Train Operating Companies covered by the DfT to express serious concern at the lack of meaningful negotiations aimed at resolving their dispute over pay, jobs and conditions of service.

TSSA’s letter states that there have been no formal talks between any Train Operating Company and TSSA. The union is seeking a way forward that provides a fair deal for rail workers and enables the rail industry to recover and grow again, but is frustrated at the rail companies’ refusal to arrange meeting dates.

The move comes after over five thousand TSSA members from eleven train operators and Network Rail walked out on strike on Thursday 18 August, and Saturday 20 August, the biggest TSSA strike in a generation. Members in four other train operating companies have taken action short of strike action around the same dates.

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, said “We have agreed collective bargaining procedures with all 15 rail companies that we wrote to today. They’re there so we can meaningfully negotiate on behalf of our members their pay and conditions. Failing to abide by those procedures cannot be in the best interests of our industry.

“It is extremely frustrating that these companies are refusing to comply with these long-established means of resolving issues between workers and their employer.

“Our union is committed to finding a negotiated settlement in this dispute which works for our members and for our passengers and our taxpayers alike. But we will not find a resolution if we don’t sit down and talk about what a suitable resolution looks like.

“Our members have already shown that they are willing to take industrial action to defend their jobs, their pay and their conditions, and we will not hesitate to take action again if we cannot find a negotiated settlement.

ENDS

Notes to editors.

Copies of all thirteen letters can be found below.

TSSA wrote to Managing Directors at the following Train Operating Companies:

TOC	Managing Director
Avanti West Coast	Phil Whittingham
c2c	Rob Mullen
CrossCountry	Tom Joyner
East Midlands Railway	Will Rogers
Great Western Railway	Mark Hopwood
Greater Anglia	Jamie Burles
LNER	David Horne
Nothern	Nick Donovan
South Western Railway	Claire Mann
Southeastern	Steve White
Southern/GTR	Patrick Verwer
TransPennine Express	Matthew Golton
West Midlands Railway	Ian McConnell

TSSA members took strike action at Avanti West Coast, c2c, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, LNER and Southeastern on 18 and 20 August.

TSSA members took action short of a strike at West Midlands Trains, Northern, Greater Anglia, and TransPennine Express on, and around those dates.