DONNY DEMONSTRATES AGAINST MCNULTY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2014 :: RMTnews 14 Trade unionists and campaigners from across Britain converged on Doncaster last month to march and rally against rail cuts demanded by the now infamous McNulty report. The proposed cuts, adopted as policy by the government, - represent the biggest threat to the rail industry in 50 years. The Report calls for the break-up of Network Rail, longer franchises, attacking staff conditions and paves the way for an attack on regional railways. Over a third of the total savings are expected to come by cutting staff, including those working on maintenance. Trains will also be expected to be ‘Driver Only Operation’, with no other staff on board. Also proposed is a review of station staffing and the scrapping of regulations that protect ticket offices. The decimation of essential staff flies in the face of research by Passenger Focus and others organisations that show that station and train staff are important to passengers for safety assurances, ticket sales, journey advice and general reassurance. RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that without vital station platform staff, ticket office staff and train guards, disabled and vulnerable passengers would be hardest hit. “Guards that are trained to lead passengers to safety in the event of any incident or accident and safety critical maintenance staff will be gone forever,” he said. Members from across the union bring out their branch and regional council banners to parade around the town centre, led by the RMT brass band. They were joined by trade unionists from Aslef, Unison, National Shop Stewards Network, the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Barnsley Retiree`s Action Group - currently 75 per cent of the way to defeating and overturning savage cuts to free travel to South Yorkshire disabled and pensioners – and Doncaster Care UK workers, who are fighting vicious cuts to their terms and conditions and others from across the labour movement. The rally was addressed by RMT president Peter Pinkney, RMT relief regional organiser north Sean McGowan, ASLEF vice president Tosh McDonald and National Pensioners Convention president Ron Douglas among others. Sean McGowan said that the spirits of those in attendance never dampened and the resolve of strengthened along the route. “The pride you feel when fighting your corner, marching behind a big and loud brass band makes you forget about the weather. “Curious shoppers in their hundreds enquired as to why so many people had decided to parade around Doncaster in the pouring Yorkshire rain. “They signed free-post postcards calling on their MPs to support the halting of the McNulty Report recommendations via the signing of an Early Day Motion,” he said. DONNY DEMONSTRATES AGAINST MCNULTY Hundreds brave the Doncaster weather to protest against the McNulty Report