SAFETY FIRST!

Rail safety is being dangerously compromised during strikes, with train dispatch workers being denied the right to view crucial safety ID of scabbing managers, delegates agreed. Delegates heard that the problem emerged during recent strikes at Virgin Cross Country. Nick Quirk described how senior managers had taken the place of striking train managers and guards. Dispatch staff from other train- operating companies found that they had no right to view these bosses’ Safety Critical Work Identification (SCWID) cards. “This is surely a health and safety issue in which we could be dispatching trains with an unqualified and dangerous manager,” said Nick. “Why should station staff be put in a situation of dispatching a train because there’s a scab on it?” he said. RMT assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski told conference: “This is a classic case of when there’s a strike on, the rule book is torn up and thrown out the window”. Delegates unanimously condemned the practice, demanding the right for dispatch staff to view SCWID cards in such circumstances. SAFETY FIRST! Station and associated grades conference held in London called for end to the erosion of health and safety rules by employers during industrial action RMTnews :: june 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 18