GUARDS TAKE ACTION!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2017 :: RMTnews 4 Over 2,000 RMT members working for three rail franchises across England launched ‘rock solid’ 24-hour strike action earlier this month in defence of the role of guard. It was the 30th strike day at Southern Rail in nearly a year despite a campaign of intimidation from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) that also operates the Thameslink and Great Northern (TSGN) rail franchise. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that despite a relentless campaign of spin and intimidation from Southern, RMT guards' and drivers' continued to hold firm in the fight for rail safety nearly a year on . "RMT members on Southern have shown incredible courage in this year-long battle to put passenger safety before private profits , they are a credit to their communities and the entire trade union movement. "Instead of their usual barrage of distortions and misinformation it is about time Southern/GTR got out of the bunker and entered serious and meaningful talks,” he said. RMT is considering legal options over failure of Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to protect the rights of disabled passengers on Southern rail. The ORR has key responsibilities for overseeing the rights of disabled passengers including being responsible for agreeing Train Companies Disabled Persons Protection Policy. RMT’s concerns arise from reports that disabled passengers on GTR Southern are being treated less favourably than other passengers as a result of the company's decision to end the guarantee of a guard on driver-only services. MERSERYRAIL Guards and drivers working for Merseyrail also took action over similar DOO proposals and have refused to work rest days since 6 March. The action was solid with pickets out in force at all key points and the response on the ground was described as ‘wholly positive’. RMT regional organiser John Tilley said that the strike was all about safety and about putting the welfare of the travelling public before the profits of the private rail companies. “It’s about time Merseyrail and their cheerleaders woke up to that reality and started serious talks with the union that secure a safe future for their services and the guarantee of a guard on their trains," he said. Merseyrail and Merseytravel claims that they cannot afford to keep guards had already been exposed as misleading by new research showing that dividends paid out by Merseryrail are up to £14million a year, almost three times the cost of keeping guards. The research also shows that in 2014 the revenue income of Merseyrail was £51 million, and Merseyrail paid out a dividend not far short of £14 million meaning a quarter of passenger fares ending up in the pockets of Merseyrails owners, Serco and Dutch state-owned Abellio. RMT believes that instead of getting rid of Guards Merseyrail GUARDS TAKE ACTION! Southern Rail, Merseyrail and Northern Rail staff walk out against Driver-Only Operation