NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release 8 July 2003

Success for Gatwick managers

RAIL union TSSA has been awarded recognition rights for managers in GatwickExpress based at Victoria Station and Gatwick Airport Station, GrosvenorGardens and Stewarts Lane Depot, Battersea.

The CAC (Central Arbitration Committee) declared that support for the unionwas so overwhelming that a recognition ballot was not necessary and awardedrecognition.

The union will now be entitled to negotiate with Gatwick Express on mattersincluding pay, working hours and holidays. Managers will also now be able toelect their own representatives.

This is the latest success for TSSA's campaign to win back recognition formanager grades in every train operator, following ballot victories inNetwork Rail and Silverlink over the past year.

TSSA Development Manager Jo Twite said: "This is excellent news for managerswho work for Gatwick Express and we now look forward to working to achievethe best we can for them in the future."

"We are particularly pleased that this is the second National Express groupin a few months to gain recognition and that managers at Gatwick Express andSilverlink now have a voice."

She said: "We have already approached train operators who do not allow theirmanagers trade union recognition to ask for it on a voluntary basis. Thisresult shows that managers do want trade union recognition and are preparedto submit formal claims to get it. We hope that other train operators willfollow suit and talk to us about voluntary recognition for all managementstaff."

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For further information, please contact:
Hannah Leggett Press Officer (020) 7529 8059 or 07769 682806(mobile)Notes to Editors1. TSSA represents 33,000 members in administrative, clerical,managerial, professional and technical jobs in the railways, buses, theLondon Underground, the travel trade, canals, ports and ferries, and roadhaulage.