Many staff, particularly at outlying stations, are annoyed at how far they are expected to travel to workshops such as 'Time for Action' and 'Valuing Time', held in a central London location.

RMT asked management to use a variety of venues, so for example, staff could attend the workshops in Wembley, or Stratford, or Acton, or Morden, if that was more local to their usual workplace. Management refused.

So RMT argued that if management are not prepared to use a variety of venues, then they should pay overtime. Eagle-eyed Rickmansworth staff even dug out an old - but still valid - agreement that if you work more than 45 minutes travelling time from your home station, then you should be paid overtime for the travelling time.

Rickmansworth group union reps referred this issue to the Stations & Revenue Council, and it was discussed at the meeting on 11 December. Management, however, refused our claim, arguing that 'Time for Action' etc were not 'work' and therefore were not covered by this agreement! We registered a 'failure to agree'.