SIGNAL WORKERS IN SCOTLAND SHOW THE WAY

Network Rail finally gave an undertaking to enter meaningful talks to implement the 35- hour week and resolve other issues following solid 48-hour strike action in Scotland last month. RMT suspended further planned strike action by more than 400 signallers and supervisory staff following the progress made in talks with Network Rail over the 35-hour week and other issues including Cognisco testing and safety briefing days. The union also warned that action would be re-instated if any further attempt was made to renege on the 35-hour week agreement. "We now have an undertaking from Network Rail that they will implement the 35-hour week deal in full and, after consulting our members, the executive has agreed to suspend the strikes," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. He said that details of rosters will now be concluded in local talks, which are expected to be concluded swiftly and in line with the UK-wide agreement, which envisages banked hours to be converted into extra rest days. "We obviously now hope that the matter can be put behind us, but the union has warned that any further attempt to undermine or renege on the agreement will be met with the re-instatement of strike action," Bob said. Despite attempts by Network Rail to run services with a small band of scabs and managers, many brought in from as far away as Humberside and Kent, the service was decimated. “If RMT had sent pickets from Kent to Scotland the company could have launched a legal challenge using Tory anti-trade union laws. “So much for an even playing field,” he said. 35-HOUR WEEK The main sticking point of the dispute was over the implementation of the 35 hour week agreed in the 2006 pay deal and negotiated without problems in the rest of the country. Management had been seeking to shave off minutes on the roster instead of the agreed deal of adding additional rest days. Despite numerous meetings with management to attempt to resolve the matter, RMT was forced to use industrial action for the first time since 1994 following a two to one mandate in favour of industrial action. RMT regional organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland Phil McGarry said that it appeared local management were prepared to test RMT members’ resolve over this issue and were prepared to water down safety standards in an attempt to run scab services. “I am pleased to say that our members stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a rock solid dispute and both signallers and supervisory grades told management that RMT members were not prepared to be bullied or intimidated over attempts to break a national agreement,” he said. DANGEROUS PRACTICES Phil McGarry pointed out that, once again, the Railways Inspectorate had allowed Network Rail to run services with watered- down safety standards and less qualified staff with limited or no local route knowledge. “Inevitably, there were instances of safety irregularities including a train signalled in both directions at Haymarket Station by a scab signaller which gives serious cause for concern. “How can you have strict standards on one day and lesser standards for a strike day?,” he said. Phil warned that changes should be made in the way management is allowed to run the railway and the way it is policed before there is a serious accident. Bob Crow congratulated signalling and Supervisory members in Scotland on their stand. “It serves as a reminder that if you stand up to a bullying and intransigence, collective action can defeat it,” he said. Signal workers in Scotland show the way Following solid strike action by signallers in Scotland, Network Rail finally agrees to implement the 35- hour week RMTnews :: april 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 4