To All Avanti West Coast Train Manager Grade RMT Members
Our Ref: BR2/8/2
5th July 2022
Dear Colleague
IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, TRAIN MANAGERS – AVANTI WEST COAST
I have received alarming reports from the Lead Officer advising that Avanti West Coast has imposed Train Manager rosters across all depots without any agreement with the RMT. The newly imposed roster will be implemented on Sunday 17th July 2022. The Union believes that the rosters are in breach of the procedures and will have a serious detrimental effect on work life balance for our Train Manager members.
Your Train Manager Company Council Reps have attended numerous lengthy meetings with Avanti West Coast management in the hope of resolving the roster issues but regrettably this shambolic situation, which is of managements making, remains unchanged.
As you may be aware, AWC imposed new rosters at Euston, Woverhampton and Preston in their attempt to reduce cancellations due to Train Manager shortages and the RMT declared an immediate dispute situation. Following the Union registering a dispute at these three locations, management has indicated that they do not believe the rosters they had imposed sufficiently safeguarded the train service plan and that they are now reneging on the agreed rosters at all other locations.
This is not in the spirit of how rosters should be negotiated and agreed and in view of this appalling situation, I have raised my grave concerns with the company and reminded management that industrial relations are already at an all time low and the imposition of rosters will do absolutely nothing to improve the situation.
I trust this keeps you fully advised on the matter and I will, of course, update you on any further developments.
Yours sincerely
Michael Lynch
General Secretary