NO DOO ON MERSEYRAIL!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2017 :: RMTnews 13 RMT lobbied a meeting of Mersey Travel against plans to cut guards on Merseyrail trains last month. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – which brings together the six councils of the city region – will borrow t £460 million from the European Investment Bank to bring in Driver-Only Operation (DOO) on behalf of Merseytravel. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that Merseytravel had decided that it could not afford to run safe trains with guards, so it intended to run unsafe ones and ramming through DOO. "RMT has made it clear that we will do whatever is necessary to defend the safety of our members and the travelling public. "If Scotrail can introduce new trains and retain guards, then so can Merseyrail "We will now be seeking assurances from Merseyrail that it has no intention of removing safety-trained guards from any of its trains," he said. The move to abolish guards came as news broke that a train guard had prevented a sexual assault and led the victim to the safety of his cab, before alerting police and ensuring she was able to get home safely. British Transport Police is investigating the incident which took place on a Merseyrail train travelling between Liverpool Central and Moorfields station shortly after 8.30pm on December 6. A poll commissioned by RMT also revealed that some 78 per cent of weekly Merseyrail users would oppose moves to remove the network’s 200-plus on-board guards and introduce driver-only operation. Of those surveyed, 98 per cent currently felt safe travelling on the network – but more than two-thirds said that they would feel less safe if guards were axed. “Incidents on Merseyrail in the last few months alone should make it clear that fully safety-trained guards are an essential and indispensable part of train-crew, and that Merseytravel must find a way of financing new trains that does not compromise safety. “RMT and our sister unions have made it clear that we will not accept the dilution of safety that the removal of guards would mean, and the authority should already be well aware that Merseyside cannot afford to lose more than 200 skilled guards’ jobs,” said Mick Cash. NO DOO ON MERSEYRAIL! Merseyrail guard prevents an assault underlining the fact that safety-trained guards are an essential part of train-crew