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Redundancy: is it possible to negotiate retention of company perks?

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Tickety Boo

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Hello, I am a new member here and an experienced booking clerk / ticket clerk

I'd like specific advice from anyone who has been through redundancy on the railway, or anyone who is an experienced I.R union rep.

I am wondering if it is possible to negotiate retention of your company travel perks and / or PRIV discount card as part of a redundancy agreement? (Non-safeguarded)

I am not facing imminent redundancy but things are looking dicey and I want to get my ducks in a row and know where I stand, should it come to it. With the greatest of respect to members, please only answer if you are reasonably sure.... anyone can guess including me!

Thank you kindly in advance
 
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T-Karmel

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Hi,

As per Rail Staff Travel Guide:

Resignation, retirement, redundancy or dismissal
Your eligibility for national and international travel facilities ceases when you leave employment with National Rail TOCs. All Rail Staff Travel cards and passes for you and all family members must be surrendered to the TOC before you leave. If you do not, and later join another TOC this may impact on our ability to issue you with rail staff travel facilities.


and as Non-safeguarded who went through redundancy in railway last year having under 5 years of service, there was a rumour that in case of redundancy if you work for more than 5 years you get to keep your travel facilities. However there were people working much much longer than that and no one got to keep it. They tried to fight it in court and that also didn't work.
 

Tickety Boo

New Member
Joined
5 Feb 2021
Messages
3
Location
London
Hi,

As per Rail Staff Travel Guide:

Resignation, retirement, redundancy or dismissal
Your eligibility for national and international travel facilities ceases when you leave employment with National Rail TOCs. All Rail Staff Travel cards and passes for you and all family members must be surrendered to the TOC before you leave. If you do not, and later join another TOC this may impact on our ability to issue you with rail staff travel facilities.


and as Non-safeguarded who went through redundancy in railway last year having under 5 years of service, there was a rumour that in case of redundancy if you work for more than 5 years you get to keep your travel facilities. However there were people working much much longer than that and no one got to keep it. They tried to fight it in court and that also didn't work.

Thanks for this. It is frustrating that you can put in years of service and yet you lose all your facilities, pretty much no matter what, it would seem. I wish the unions would fight this issue more strongly, as rail staff often build their lives around the job, including their choice of where to live..... so loss of travel facilities can be a serious problem.
 

LowLevel

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26 Oct 2013
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7,543
Thanks for this. It is frustrating that you can put in years of service and yet you lose all your facilities, pretty much no matter what, it would seem. I wish the unions would fight this issue more strongly, as rail staff often build their lives around the job, including their choice of where to live..... so loss of travel facilities can be a serious problem.

What *can* be negotiated is the retention of TOC or group travel facilities. That is at the discretion of the franchise holder, and may not be honoured if there is a change of company if it is awarded. Nothing you can do to retain your Quarter Fare card though.

Provided you aren't sacked the TOC I work for gives staff with more than a certain amount of service company passes on a discretionary basis.
 

Tickety Boo

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What *can* be negotiated is the retention of TOC or group travel facilities. That is at the discretion of the franchise holder, and may not be honoured if there is a change of company if it is awarded. Nothing you can do to retain your Quarter Fare card though.

Provided you aren't sacked the TOC I work for gives staff with more than a certain amount of service company passes on a discretionary basis.

Well that would be a big help, although you'd be a nervous wreck each time the franchise came up for renewal!!
 

rail-god

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Thanks for this. It is frustrating that you can put in years of service and yet you lose all your facilities, pretty much no matter what, it would seem. I wish the unions would fight this issue more strongly, as rail staff often build their lives around the job, including their choice of where to live..... so loss of travel facilities can be a serious problem.

You dont get SFA free travel with FOC to start with.
 

ComUtoR

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Quite, lost all my passes when I went freight. Reyt farce!

I'm not sure where I stand on FOCs not getting passes but what could they offer in a reciprocal arrangement so that they could get passes ?
 

peakNed

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I'm not sure where I stand on FOCs not getting passes but what could they offer in a reciprocal arrangement so that they could get passes ?
What has reciprocal offerings got to do with it? FOCs have to pay into the RDG for freight duty passes. No reason why this can’t be expanded to priv cards for non-safeguarded staff.

Suspect you’ll find more FOC staff using the train if they can get it cheap. I used to regularly get the train to my mates up in Manchester. Now I’m privless walk up fares are eye watering, so I drive up there instead.
 

ComUtoR

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What has reciprocal offerings got to do with it?

Actually quite a lot. TOCs and FOCs are a buisness they don't give stuff away willingly if they don't have to. I am also aware of the ASLEF campaign to have free travel for all. Part of that discussion has been to find recripricoal arrangements between companies.

Suspect you’ll find more FOC staff using the train if they can get it cheap. I used to regularly get the train to my mates up in Manchester. Now I’m privless walk up fares are eye watering, so I drive up there instead.

I agree, but that argument falls on deaf ears at the TOCs

Its easier to get blood from a stone than get money from a TOC.
 

43096

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I'm not sure where I stand on FOCs not getting passes but what could they offer in a reciprocal arrangement so that they could get passes ?
What exactly would the reciprocal arrangement be? It's not like FOCs can offer any benefits to TOC staff, is it.
 
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