TRAIN CREW - SAVE OUR RAILWAYS

RMTnews :: may 2005 14 CONFERENCE agreed that the Railways Act, Community Rail partnerships, the re-privatisation of South Eastern Trains, contingency plans and the Northern Rail review all represented threats to jobs, services and the role of the guard. Craig Johnston, Carlisle City said it was appaling that train operating companies were undermining the rulebook by imposing secretive so-called “contingency plans”. “On Northern Rail this has meant that trains can remain in service with no emergency brake systems or TIS, undermining safety on the rail network and representing a threat to passengers and staff,” he said. Conference demanded the withdrawal of such contingency plans and for action to be taken if companies refused to do so. ROLE OF THE GUARD Conference agreed that rule book changes, the introduction of new stock, refranchising and timetabling were undermining the role of the guard. Greg Tucker, Waterloo said it was necessary to develop an industry-wide strategy that clearly defines the role of the guard and restricts companies from diluting safety responsibilities in the pursuit of profit. Assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski said that the new revamped guard’s charter outlined the role of the guard, including in the event of the failure of on-train safety devices. “We cannot allow the imposition of rule changes and contingency plans without consultation,” he said. DEFEND NORTHERN RAIL Conference agreed that the ongoing review of Northern Rail services taking place just months after the creation of the new franchise threatens cuts, the replacement of services with buses and line closures. Alex Holden, Manchester Victoria said that a massive campaign was required to defend these services involving passenger groups. Craig Johnston, Carlisle City said that if the government really wanted to reduce subsidies and save money it should bring the railways back into public ownership and “kick the profiteers off the network”. Growing uncertainty over Northern Rail has been heightened by comments made by Director of Rail Strategy and Resources Mark Lambirth who warned senior industry figures that: “What you people have to understand is that the future is about service cuts and fares increases.” These comments were even more alarming given the powers in the new Railways Act making it far easier for the government to cut rail services. Conference called on the union to fight any closures or bustitution plans that may come out of the review of Northern Rail services. DEFEND RURAL LINES Plans to introduce nearly 60 Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) by the government represented a serious threat to the very existence of many rural lines Ed Fontaine, Plymouth warned conference. “Handing these lines over to rail enthusiasts would be a prelude to closure or the creation of small private rail societies. “This means fare increases, replacing services with buses and job losses and this union should not stand back and allow branch lines to close without an almighty fight,” he said. Pat Sikorski said that the current crisis was due to government policies that allowed the drive for profit to be put in front of the interests of the industry. “Community Rail represents Beech-style cuts that leaves rural and regional lines to be run by enthusiasts as long as it lasts, bearing in mind that there will only be short-term subsidies. “All these issues are encapsulated under the Rail Against Privatisation campaign which points to the need of an integrated public transport network,” he said. NATIONAL PAY BARGAINING The time has come to put into practice union policy of one national pay system for all train crew grades, conference agreed. Greg Tucker, Waterloo said the union should work towards common pay claims, based on common terms and conditions in all companies as part of a campaign for national collective pay bargaining. “Before World War Two this union achieved one national set of job descriptions, pay and conditions for all train crew when the network was in private hands. “It has been done before and we can do it again,” he said. A packed RMT train crew conference in Edinburgh called for the defence of national rail services and the role of the guard SAVE OUR