UNION WINS SUPPORT AGAINST DRIVER ONLY OPERATION AT SCOTRAIL

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: january 2010 :: RMTnews 5 First Scotrail is openly admitting to MSPs that it is prepared to breach contract terms over train staffing levels in order to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new Edinburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route. Under its contract with Scottish Ministers the train operator is required to have a second person on the train at all times. However, in a briefing to MSPs, Scotrail admitted that “there may be times when we may choose to operate a train without a second person”. RMT pointed out that without a guard on the crew, rather than a ticket examiner, a train would not be allowed to leave the station. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that Scotrail had let the cat out of the bag. “We now know that their reason for failing to bring guards onto the new Aidrie/Bathgate service is so that they can run trains with just one member of staff. “No guard, no ticket examiner just the driver up in the cab with all of the security and safety risks that such a policy brings with it. “If there’s a shortage of ticket examiners then Scotrail are saying that they will breach the contract with Scottish Ministers and run the trains anyway. “When they’ve done it once we have no doubt that they will try and get away with it over and over again, creating a massive security and safety risk for the travelling public while at the same time jacking up their own profits by saving money on staffing levels,” he said. An RMT delegation by led by assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski will meet Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson soon to seek assurances that Scotrail will not be allowed to break contractual agreements. The union will reinforce the point that the whole move to DOO is entirely cash-led despite the fact that Scotrail made profits of £18.444 million in the last financial year with a massive £18 million handed back to shareholders in dividends. First Scotrail financial returns also show that the highest paid director made £429,274 in the 2008/2009 financial year compared to the £300,000 additional cost of employing guards on the new service. RMT has launched a postcard campaign with the help of Elaine Smith MSP (above) against DOO and is pulling in solid support from politicians and the public alike. Outgoing Scottish regional organiser Phil McGarry said that activists giving out postcards in Glasgow and Edinburgh to send to MSPs got warm response. “This latest news on Scotrail bosses pay will reinforce the widespread anger at the cash-driven moves towards an under-staffed and unsafe service,” he said. *Elaine Smith MSP has tabled Parliamentary motion S3M-05202 ‘Safety First’ in support of the campaign. Write to your MSP asking for their support or send an RMT postcard available from your branch secretary. UNION WINS SUPPORT AGAINST DRIVER ONLY OPERATION AT SCOTRAIL First Scotrail prepared to breach contract in order to introduce DOO