RMT has announced further strike action that will take place on Northern Rail in the continued dispute over the role of the guard.
This now means each Saturday of September, the train operating company members will take part in strike action.
The new phase of strike action is:
- 00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 15th September 2018
- 00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 22nd September 2018
- 00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 29th September 2018
This is in addition to the existing strike action:
- 00:01 and 23:59 on Saturday 25th August 2018,
- 00:01 and 23:59 on Saturday 1st September 2018
- 00:01 and 23:59 on Saturday 8th September 2018.
What did the officials say?
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT has made every effort to get serious and meaningful talks going with Northern but instead of making progress towards a settlement that matches the best practice in the rail industry as negotiated elsewhere the company have opted instead to play and fast and loose making a mockery of the exercise. It is the pig headed and arrogant attitude of the company that has forced us to announce this next phase of action and to confirm that the strikes planned from Saturday go ahead.
“RMT members on Arriva Rail North have been in dispute for well over a year now in a battle to put public safety before private profit and we are angry and frustrated that a genuine opportunity to reach an agreement has been kicked back by the company.
“German-owned Northern Rail want to run nearly half a million trains a year without a safety critical guard on board in a move that would wreck both safety and access to services and they should listen to their front-line staff and pull back from that plan immediately.
“RMT recently secured an agreement on Greater Anglia that enshrine the guard guarantee. Similar agreements have also been reached in Wales and Scotland. Arriva Rail North need to do the right thing and come to an agreement that secures a guard on their trains too.
“We thank the public for their support and understanding throughout this dispute over rail safety and access and the union remains ready for genuine and serious talks.”
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Northern Trains operated by Arriva are the worst train operator in the North of England. Whilst Govia Thameslink Railway and South Western Railway are the worst train operators in the South of England. When it comes to strikes which causes misery to passengers using them to travel from A to B. Instead being replaced by replacement buses because of the strikes. Not forgetting TransPennine Express and Greater Anglia.