FirstTrainOrdsallChord 10122017 25 ©

One-day rail strike called for May

Northern Rail services are to be affected by a 24-hour strike on Wednesday 9 May, transport union RMT has announced.

However, Merseyrail services are unaffected by the latest round of strikes, which see South Western the worst affected, with industrial action on five working days.

As with recent strikes, the dispute is over services becoming driver-only operated as rolling stock is replaced. The dispute with Southern, the longest-running part of this, is now two years old.

A Merseytravel spokesman confirmed to Place North West that talks with unions are ongoing.

RMT general secretary, Mick Cash said: “Yet again the intransigence of private rail companies operating in England over the key issue of the guard guarantee means that we have no option but to announce further strike action.

“We are drawing attention to the ludicrous situation that means we are able to reach agreements in Wales and Scotland on the guard guarantee but not on a raft of key franchises in England.

“If it’s good enough for Wales and Scotland to put rail safety first then it should be good enough for the rest of Britain. RMT remains available for genuine and meaningful talks in each of these disputes.”

In response, Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, said: “Our modernisation plans are well underway with almost £500m of new trains under construction, 90 refurbished trains in service, £8m spent so far on improving our stations, extra services from May, and much more to come by 2020.

“We urge RMT to move away from its nationally co-ordinated campaign and allow its local representatives to engage in meaningful discussions with us on how we better serve customers on-board.

“We are still prepared to offer unprecedented guarantees of jobs and pay reviews until the end of our franchise in 2025, with the Government guaranteeing jobs beyond that, but both guarantees depend on RMT ending its strike action.”

Your Comments

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Make no difference anyway I’ve had three cancelled this week “due to a member of train crew being unavailable” automate the lot of them and pass the savings onto the consumer. I have no sympathy for members of train staff or the RMT, I need to get to work and the country needs to get where its going. Stop striking, start turning up to work or you’ll very easily be replaced/ automated.

By Commuter

Strange how there is universal agreements to raise fares across the board.

By MP

Git to be easier to sort driverless trains than cars! With barriers at most stations now you could save money and make it all more efficient and avoid theses strikes!

By Anon

It’s interesting that the picture of the train crossing the Ordsall Chord is the only train that’s ever crossed it.

No-one seems to know why the OC is being used.

By Mike Rainer

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