SCOTRAIL STRIKE VOTE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2016 :: RMTnews 11 Members working at ScotRail have voted overwhelmingly for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike over the extension of Driver Only Operation and Driver Controlled operation. The vote was over 75 per cent for strike action with an even bigger majority for action short of a strike and the turn- out was 75 per cent. RMT’s policy is for no extension of DOO on any route or service and for the guard to be in full operational control of the power operated doors. RMT has made it clear that the union is totally opposed to any proposals for extending DOO, reducing or abolishing the safety role of the Conductor and reducing or abolishing the role of the Conductor in operation of the doors. Scotrail has been repeatedly informed of RMT’s position and the company had claimed that they accepted the importance of these issues. But, instead of talking directly to the union, Abellio/Scotrail have resorted to targeting individual members through social media and junk mail in a campaign of misinformation which has backfired spectacularly. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said that the magnificent result shows that our members on Scotrail stand determined and united in this fight for jobs and safety on Scotland’s rail services. "The workforce know that any extension of DOO or DCO is a clear attack on our members hard earned terms and conditions. "The workforce also know only too well that there is a very real threat to passengers of watering down and wiping out the safety critical role of the guard on these Scotrail services. That is a lethal gamble with basic rail safety,” he said. The overwhelming majority of the public also want to see guards retained on ScotRail trains and are seriously concerned at the impact on passenger safety of rolling out Driver Only Operation (DOO) across Scotland. The latest Opinium poll conducted for the union showed that the travelling public in Scotland, like the rest of the country, are opposed to the removal of guards on trains. Frequent uses that travel every day support ending privatisation and bringing Abellio ScotRail back into public ownership in Scotland by 82 per cent, as do 70% of the regular passengers as a whole .. Three quarters (73 per cent) are concerned about the safety of travelling on trains that no longer had an on-board train guard and 77 per cent believe Abellio Scotrail should not allow trains to operate without at least one member of staff assisting passengers and protecting their safety. That figure rises to 84 per cent of women passengers who also said by 82%, that they would be concerned about the safety of travelling on trains that no longer had an on-board train guard/ conductor. SCOTRAIL STRIKE VOTE Public support soars for renationalisation and for guards to be kept on ScotRail trains