Circular No IR/292/11

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL OFFICES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

21^st July 2011

Dear Colleagues

USE OF AGENCY STAFF – SOUTH WEST TRAINS (BR2/13/1)

Further to Circular No IR/279/11 dated 7^th July 2011, this matter has once again been subject to a recent consideration by the General Grades Committee, which has taken the following decision:

“A meeting with members of the General Grades Committee, Regional Organiser and Company Council Representatives in attendance took place at Unity House on 13^th July 2011 to discuss the outsourcing of Train Presentation at Guildford and Staines.

We note that the company’s justification for their actions is based around problems that they have in retaining Train Presentation Staff.

This problem we believe is of the company’s own making and if South West Trains employed directly, instead of through a third party that are paying just above the minimum wage, their retention issues would disappear.

We instruct the General Secretary to write to South West Trains, informing them of our opposition to any outsourcing of our members’ jobs.

Further we instruct the General Secretary to organise a recruitment drive specifically for these Grades with the resources and expertise of the Organisation Unit made available.

A personal letter to be sent to all relevant members within South West Trains.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.”

I will now be acting on the instructions of this decision and I will keep you advised of any developments.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary