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THE latest local, national and international rail industry news, updated several times a day – every day!
"Justice 4 Jarvis" London Demonstration
May 1 2010:
MANY thanks to RMT Television for making this video of this week's "Justice 4 Jarvis" demonstration at Network Rail HQ in London available.
Jarvis Staff "Have Received Redundancy Pay"
April 30 2010:
ACCORDING to an article in today's York local newspaper "The Press" about 600 Jarvis staff have now received redundancy payments.
The article goes on to say: " The figure was released as the RMT union announced it is considering whether to take legal action over delays in releasing the money following the company’s slide into administration more than a month ago.
The Government’s Insolvency Service said hundreds of workers should have received their payments either yesterday or on Wednesday, and that the hold-ups were due to problems deciphering Jarvis’ company records.
It also claimed it was still awaiting details of the payments which have yet to be finalised from administrators Deloitte.
The article seems to leave some unanswered questions. Namely, how were the 600 staff selected, and will the remainder receive redundancy payments?
Justice for Jarvis London Protest Tomorrow
April 27 2010:
JUSTICE 4 JARVIS workers from across the UK will be taking their case to the doorstep of Network Rail, and its Chief Executive Iain Coucher, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28 at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG at 1 pm.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "1200 Jarvis workers, skilled staff who we need out there on the tracks to keep our railways running, have been totally betrayed by Network Rail who admit that these jobs still need doing but have not lifted a finger to keep these men and women in work.
"In yet another twist of the knife, Network Rail, and the contractor Babcock Rail who are picking up some of the Jarvis work, have said that in their view the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations, that protect pay and conditions and length of service, will not apply to any workers they might re-engage. That is a scandal.
"While the election focuses on personalities and talk of deals to keep politicians in high paid positions after May 6, the jobs carnage on Britain's railways continues and is wrecking the lives of key staff that we need to keep the network safe.
"We are backing the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and the lobby on Wednesday and are challenging the politicians in the areas hit by these 1200 jobs cuts to cut the spin and the rhetoric and to join the fight to save these workers and their livelihoods."
"Justice 4 Jarvis" York Protest
April 26 2010:
THIS video of the April 14 York "Justice 4 Jarvis" demonstration has just been released by RMT Television.
It's a lot more professional than the one I posted here on the day of the protest. There's plenty of Bill Rawcliffe on there, explaining the situation. Also you can see what happened when he managed to gain access to the Network Rail Offices in Toft Green.
A new "Justice 4 Jarvis" website has been set up. I liked their logo, which you can see on this posting. The site, unfortunately, does not seem to be as regularly updated as "Northrail."
Union representatives are arranging a meeting with solicitors to see if a mass claim for unfair dismissal should be launched. A London demonstration is also being planned.
Back-Pedaling on Jarvis Job Assurances?
April 21, 2010:
RAIL UNION leaders were today calling for an urgent meeting with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis after talks with Babcock Rail produced "a rather different scenario" on previous Government assurances.
The union leaders met with Lord Adonis last Thursday and RMT General Secretary Bob Crow came away with the impression the Minister had been informed by Network Rail that the former Jarvis work would be reallocated in “a matter of days”. It was also understood the new contractor would be Babcock Rail.
Mr Crow was also under the impression Network Rail was prepared to insist that re-employment was to be under TUPE – Transfer of Undertakings – rules in which the workers would be given the same terms and conditions as under Jarvis.
Later, the unions met with Babcock Rail and Mr Crow said the Scottish rail engineers presented “a rather different scenario” – that while Babcock Rail was in negotiations with Network Rail for the London North East Railways contract, this would affect between 200 and 300 jobs.
Mr Crow said: “Also, far from being allocated in a matter of days, Babcock did not anticipate the new contract coming into effect until the end of May.
“Babcock also advised us that they had been told by Network Rail the Tupe need not apply. This is contrary to what we were led to believe at our meeting with the Secretary of State.”
Hopes Rise For Sacked Jarvis Workers
April 16, 2010:
HOPES ROSE today that a new jobs rescue plan could save jobs lost following the collapse of rail maintenance firm Jarvis.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has told the leaders of the two main rail unions that Network Rail has agreed to re-allocate Jarvis work in a matter of days, and that workers on the new contract would be directly employed.
Now RMT general secretary Bob Crow and Manuel Cortes, deputy leader of the TSSA, will meet Babcock Rail, the likely new contractor, on Monday and are seeking an urgent meeting with NR to win assurances that sacked Jarvis staff will be re-hired on their old terms and conditions.
It was reported this week that former Jarvis staff have been hired by labour-only agencies to carry out rail maintenance work on longer shifts at half their former weekend rates - being paid £6 an hour for work they were previously paid £12 an hour for.
Bob Crow said today: “It is quite clear that 1,200 front-line rail maintenance staff did not suddenly become redundant when the company collapsed, and it is imperative that Network Rail is not allowed to use the crisis to drive down costs at the expense of our members’ safety and conditions.
“We now need to make sure that justice is done and all Jarvis workers are transferred under their old terms and conditions. We do not want to see then exploited and endangered, working longer hours for less money under worse conditions.”
Mr Cortes, TSSA assistant general secretary, added: “This is a crucial issue, not just for the Jarvis staff, but for another 1,500 NR maintenance workers who are also facing the sack because of Network Rail's reckless cutbacks on vital maintenance work.
“Lord Adonis needs to bang some heads together. Here we have a state-funded rail company threatening to throw 2,700 skilled staff on the dole when the taxpayer will then be expected to pick up the bill. It is the economics of the madhouse and it should be stopped immediately."
"Justice 4 Jarvis" Demonstration in York
April 14 2010:
SACKED Jarvis workers demonstrated in York today, taking their protest to the offices of Jarvis and Network Rail.
In the region of 200 sacked Jarvis workers and their supporters took a circular route from the Crescent Working Men's Club, stopping off at the Railway War Memorial and Network Rail HQ.
York's long-standing Labour MP, and now Parliamentary candidate Hugh Bayley took time off from campaigning to talk to the protestors. He explained how had spoken to Government Ministers about the need for the TUPE Regulations to be applied. His words would seem to have fallen on deaf ears so far.
At the Network Rail offices in Toft Green, York and District RMT Branch Secretary Bill Rawcliffe attempted to speak to someone about the situation. He gained entry to the building, accompanied by a TV crew, but no spokesperson was available to speak to him.
After the march a public meeting was held in the Crescent Working Men's Club. Speeches were made by Bill Rawcliffe; Mike Cash, RMT Assistant General Secretary; and Jerry Doherty, General Secretary of the TSSA. Highlights can be seen below.
