not entirely sure how I feel about this, in normal times I’d completely back this sort of action, that said RMT seem to have suspended the guards dispute due to COVID.
USE OF VOLUNTARY UNPAID LABOUR ON THE RAILWAY NETWORK – SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS
To All RMT South Western Railways Members
Our Ref: BR2/13/4
17th June 2020
Dear Colleague
USE OF VOLUNTARY UNPAID LABOUR ON THE RAILWAY NETWORK – SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS
I write with regards to the above matter and to inform you that South Western Railways has taken the decision to introduce a volunteer workforce known as ‘Guardian Angels’ across the SWR network, due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
Your Union Representatives have advised me that SWR has introduced 185 station volunteers across the network for 3 hours AM and 3 hours PM which will be funded by the DfT. As you may be aware, the RMT has already raised our objections on this issue with the DfT, RICF and the ‘Volunteering Matters’ Organisation direct and the Union remains strongly opposed to the use of such unpaid workers on the railway.
These unpaid volunteers are no substitute for hard-working and fully trained members of rail staff and the RMT believes that SWR should not be actively participating in these unsafe and dangerous practices. The deployment of these unpaid volunteers is putting the volunteers, our members and the travelling public at risk, with serious concerns for the health and safety of the entire network.
As a result of the above, I have informed SWR that a dispute situation now exists between our two organisations and I will be balloting our SWR members for industrial action.
I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.
Best wishes.
Mick Cash
General Secretary
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