The Ticket Collector

GNER staff reject to issue online tickets.

The GNER problem continues to carry on. TSSA balloted for action and on a 70% turnout (145 people balloted), 83% (82) voted for action short of strike and 91% (92) voted for strike action.

TSSA has issued the following breif on the 8th November telling staff as of the 10th November to refuse to issue any tickets booked online and refering them to that stupid machine which is always broken.

Any questions regarding web sales are to be refered to GNER management. Refuse to handle any material promoting online sales. Refuse to update the passenger charter boards (those boards which have the figures about how crap the train company is doing and if you will get a 5% season ticket discount). Refuse to order change or stock. And Refuse to issue any parking tickets
The Ticket Collector fully supports the GNER staff in their actions and if any GNER management think they can screw around with the staff then full industrial action could happen as a result and it wont just be the TSSA union this time either.
Copy of TSSA memo to GNER staff.

GNER Dispute - Ticket Migration
Further to the recent circulars regarding the above, I have indicated to management our willingness to meet to discuss the issues that separate us but management continue to press ahead with their plans and at the same time refuse to hold meaningful dialogue with your representatives.

In the recent ballot the members gave overwhelming support for industrial action both short of strike action and up to and including strikes with the aim of forcing management back around the negotiating table.
The only reaction from management has been to hold meetings to discuss how they can undermine any action. The Executive Committee has therefore sanctioned industrial action short of strike against GNER to bring about a change to their current stance.

On this basis I have advised the company that our members within the travel centres, employed as travel centre consultants and travel centre team coaches, shall be participating in Industrial Action from the start of the first shift on Friday 10th November until further notice. At this stage this action does not include the staff at Wakefield Station

TSSA members within the grades identified above should refuse to undertake the following:
1. At present any questions regarding ticket sales by fast ticket machines or web sales are dealt with by travel centre staff. You should refuse to deal with all of these enquiries. Instead refer them to GNER management.
2. At the end of a shift travel centre cash up and fill in the required paper work. You should make the relevant information available to your manager to complete the paperwork.
3. Refuse to handle any leaflets promoting ticket sales through any other system other than counter sales including posters, leaflets or handouts and promotion material for any GNER sale’s drive.
4. Refuse to complete any updates to the passenger charter board.
5. Refuse to order any stock or change.
6. Refuse to issue parking tickets

I strongly advise that if you are not a member of the grade groups affected you should carry out your normal duties and you should not volunteer to work extended working hours arising directly or in consequence of the dispute. Members are advised not to agree to any duties that could not be regarded as part of their job description and/or have not in the past been undertaken by them in their current post.

It is very strongly stressed that in the event that Management seek the agreement of, or instruct, staff with the appropriate background, to undertake duties normally performed by our members involved in industrial action that the circumstances should be reported immediately to the TSSA. This advice applies to circumstances whether or not the individual’s judgement is that they are competent to undertake the duties in question.

I am aware that many of our members are growing increasingly angry at the management’s stance over this issue.

There have been a number of requests to move straight to strike action. I believe any action should be to put pressure on the management to hold meaningful negotiations with you, but they are well aware further action, as well as strike action, remains an option open to us. Management seems willing to allow the pressures on staff to grow to an unacceptable level, as they push ahead with their plans regardless of the consequences.

The ballot results were a clear message that the travel centre staff are not willing to be treated any longer in such a cavalier attitude. It is time to turn that message into action. I hope that all members will continue to show the same determination that they have had to date. We have not balloted our members lightly but it is time your employer treated you with the respect and dignity you deserve.