SOUTHERN SHELVES EXTENSION OF DRIVER-ONLY TRAINS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: may 2010 :: RMTnews 5 NO DOO: RMT members on the eve of the general election lobbied Holyrood against the highly-dangerous extension of Driver Only Operation on Scotrail services and for the renationalisation of the railways. S outhern Trains has stepped back from an attempt to undermine rail safety by extending driver-only train operation after Britain’s biggest rail union threatened industrial action. The company slipped a guardless Victoria- Brighton service into its new summer timetable, despite having told RMT that it had no plans to extend driver-only operation. However, Southern has now confirmed in writing that the service will be run with a guard. The union, which is running a campaign to defend the safety role of guards on two dozen train operating companies, welcomed the change of heart as a significant victory in its Keep the Guard – Keep the Train Safe campaign. RMT guards, drivers and sleeper-train managers have been embroiled in a separate protracted dispute in Scotland, where Scotrail, with the support of the SNP government, has been trying to extend driver-only operation to the Airdrie-Bathgate line, in breach of a clear agreement. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said it was a significant victory in a crucial campaign to defend the safety of our members and the travelling public. “RMT made it clear to Southern that if it attempted to carry out its plan to extend driver-only operation it would put itself in dispute with RMT. “Southern’s change of heart is welcome news, and will give heart to our members fighting to keep fully safety-trained guards in charge of passenger train,” he said. SCOTRAIL The SNP government at Holyrood was accused by the Scottish TUC of “union bashing as shocking as the dark days of Thatcher” – on the very day that SNP leader addressed delegates in Dundee. An emergency motion from RMT congratulated Scotrail staff who have taken six days of strike action in the campaign against the extension of driver-only operation. The motion condemned the use of public money by the SNP government not only to bankroll losses by Scotrail during a dispute provoked by the company, but also to finance a strike-breaking army of scabs. Bob Crow told delegates that it was a scandal that the SNP government had abused public funds to bankroll a dispute aimed at undermining rail safety. “Our members have made clear where they stand, and that imposition of driver- only operation on the Airdrie-Bathgate line would be the thin end of the wedge that would see safety-trained guards removed wholesale,” he said. RMT has held two lobbies of Holyrood including one on the day Elaine Smith MSP secured a full debate over the Scottish government indemnifying Scotrail for any losses associated with the dispute. In the debate it was revealed that the Scottish government does not hold records on whether all its services run with the statutory requirement of a second member of staff on board in addition to the driver. Assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski said that it was a shocking admission because a key part of the existing Scotrail franchise agreements that all services must still run with a minimum two staff on board. SOUTHERN SHELVES EXTENSION OF DRIVER-ONLY TRAINS