Problems at Norfolk Green.

[83G/84D]

I have not seen any mention of this previously:-

Publication Date: 20-May-15
Circular No: Circular No: IR/128/15
Circular No: IR/128/15
Our Ref: B/14/2
20th May 2015
To: Branches, Regional Councils & Regional Offices
Dear Colleague,
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – STAGECOACH (NORFOLK GREEN) KINGS LYNN
There have been a number of ongoing issues at the above depot including the fact that the company are attempting to circumnavigate the statutory recognition process with your union within the former Norfolk Green part of the business. In addition, no discussions regarding pay or terms and conditions have taken place and the company continue to take excessive disciplinary measures against RMT members at the depot. In light of the situation I have informed the company that a dispute situation now exists between them and this union.
Further, it appears that the company have made an agreement with sister union, Unite, to change the company boundary so that Norfolk Green is now encompassed into Stagecoach and Unite have sole recognition without any consultation with members at the garage. This disgraceful behaviour has angered members as it is a clear attempt to deny them the union of choice, the RMT. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of local activists and the organising unit in relation to both the Central Arbitration Committee, where we have taken our claim for union recognition, and for organising members at the depot.
I am currently undertaking preparations for a ballot for industrial action due to this untenable situation and the papers will be sent out shortly.
A demonstration will be taking place to support members and the union on Tuesday 26th May 2015 at 12.30 in Kings Lynn, please attend and support your union and fellow members.
I would be grateful if you could bring this circular to the attention of your members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary

 

[DaveHarries]

Makes me glad I am not a union member: I would never join one.

Dave

 

[embers25]

I have not seen any mention of this previously:-

Publication Date: 20-May-15
Circular No: Circular No: IR/128/15
Circular No: IR/128/15
Our Ref: B/14/2
20th May 2015
To: Branches, Regional Councils & Regional Offices
Dear Colleague,
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – STAGECOACH (NORFOLK GREEN) KINGS LYNN
There have been a number of ongoing issues at the above depot including the fact that the company are attempting to circumnavigate the statutory recognition process with your union within the former Norfolk Green part of the business. In addition, no discussions regarding pay or terms and conditions have taken place and the company continue to take excessive disciplinary measures against RMT members at the depot. In light of the situation I have informed the company that a dispute situation now exists between them and this union.
Further, it appears that the company have made an agreement with sister union, Unite, to change the company boundary so that Norfolk Green is now encompassed into Stagecoach and Unite have sole recognition without any consultation with members at the garage. This disgraceful behaviour has angered members as it is a clear attempt to deny them the union of choice, the RMT. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of local activists and the organising unit in relation to both the Central Arbitration Committee, where we have taken our claim for union recognition, and for organising members at the depot.
I am currently undertaking preparations for a ballot for industrial action due to this untenable situation and the papers will be sent out shortly.
A demonstration will be taking place to support members and the union on Tuesday 26th May 2015 at 12.30 in Kings Lynn, please attend and support your union and fellow members.
I would be grateful if you could bring this circular to the attention of your members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary

So "sister union" Unite made an agreement with stagecoach despite knowing how the RMT would react and yet still did it so shouldn't the RMT be complaining to Unite first...It's insane that now the RMT are so desperate to strike for political gain that they are now striking over the actions of their sister union! No doubt Unite will now strike over the nasty RMT!

 

[mbonwick]

It's been made clear all along that NG was being managed separately for a short(ish) period of time and would then eventually come under the management structure of one of the larger regions, in this case Stagecoach East.

Not sure what RMT were expecting to happen?

 

[Stan Drews]

Seems to be more of inter-Union competition to see who has the biggest c##k!!

 

[Busaholic]

Stagecoach was built on a Divide and Rule policy, so no surprises there. The spectre of Ann Gloag is never far away.

 

[Aictos]

If the majority of employees want RMT to represent them then Stagecoach ought to come to a agreement to have RMT together with Unite as the two unions they agree can represent their employees.

Unions have done so much to raise the standard of living from the minimum wage, to sickness pay to representing unfairly dismissed employees so I feel the RMT have a strong case here and it's not a case of mine is bigger then yours if anything the sole party responsible for this headache is none other then Stagecoach!

 

[embers25]

If the majority of employees want RMT to represent them then Stagecoach ought to come to a agreement to have RMT together with Unite as the two unions they agree can represent their employees.

Unions have done so much to raise the standard of living from the minimum wage, to sickness pay to representing unfairly dismissed employees so I feel the RMT have a strong case here and it's not a case of mine is bigger then yours if anything the sole party responsible for this headache is none other then Stagecoach!

It could be argued unions have done far more to damage industrial relations and the standard of living for their members than any Tory could but ignoring that argument, if the unions can't agree amongst themselves why should Stagecoach budge. Bottom line is RMT are far more militant and politically motivated than Unite so I can see why Stagecoach aren't keen to let them in. I still prefer the law in parts of the US where anyone caught promoting a union in the workplace can be immediately fired unless its done the correct way...so much better and helps to control unions so much better than over here.

 

[6Gman]

It could be argued unions have done far more to damage industrial relations and the standard of living for their members than any Tory could but ignoring that argument, if the unions can't agree amongst themselves why should Stagecoach budge. Bottom line is RMT are far more militant and politically motivated than Unite so I can see why Stagecoach aren't keen to let them in. I still prefer the law in parts of the US where anyone caught promoting a union in the workplace can be immediately fired unless its done the correct way...so much better and helps to control unions so much better than over here.

But they're already "in". Staff at Norfolk Green were members of RMT. In taking over the company and its staff Stagecoach also took over the terms and conditions which they should respect. If they want to change things it should be by negotiation.

 

[Robertj21a]

If the majority of employees want RMT to represent them then Stagecoach ought to come to a agreement to have RMT together with Unite as the two unions they agree can represent their employees.

Unions have done so much to raise the standard of living from the minimum wage, to sickness pay to representing unfairly dismissed employees so I feel the RMT have a strong case here and it's not a case of mine is bigger then yours if anything the sole party responsible for this headache is none other then Stagecoach!

Over the years they have also done so much to cause problems for other workers, and the general public. The approach used by the RMT nowadays reminds me of the miners disputes.

 

[Aictos]

Well if you guys want 16hr working days, low pay, lack of holiday entitlement etc then be my guest however to these of us who do belong in ANY union, we appreciate they have improved our terms and conditions at the workplace by negotiation with the employer whoever that is.

I just think that Stagecoach is in the wrong here simply because they don't seem to have followed the TUPE guidelines.

 

[Busaholic]

Over the years they have also done so much to cause problems for other workers, and the general public. The approach used by the RMT nowadays reminds me of the miners disputes.

Oh, the miners. Remember the breakaway group from the NUM, principally in Nottingham, most of whose leaders got rich on grabbing the bulk of compensation claims from diseased miners (or their families if the miner had already died) and at least two of whom received long (by this country's standards) jail sentences for fraud and theft. Only yesterday, on Radio 4's 'Today' programme a retired South Yorkshire police constable was bemoaning the decision not to open a public enquiry on the Orgreave 'riot' as he wished to give his evidence that he, and all other SY PCs present, had been instructed by their superiors to introduce fabricated evidence and 'statements' to the pending prosecution of miners for violence. Those of these 'superiors' still living, on their gold-plated pensions, have never been questioned on this matter, of course. There's Farage trying to tell those who will listen that corruption starts at Calais: mind you, there are enough idiots to buy this garbage.

 

[mbonwick]

TUPE may not apply here depending on how Stagecoach purchased Norfolk Green.

Even then, Union recognition is only protected if the aquired business retains a separate identity (and it could easily be argued that it has been made clear from the outset that NG would be losing its identity over an extended time frame, thus negating this point)