DEFEND MARTIN ZEE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2017 :: RMTnews 5 T here was a show of solidarity by RMT members across the country with Merseyrail guard Martin Zee at the start of his court hearing in Liverpool earlier this month. The Crown Prosecution Service decided to prosecute despite the fact that the company has taken no action against him. Martin was involved in an incident at Hamilton Square last year in which an elderly woman was injured when she fell between the train and the platform after the door closure procedure had commenced. By following training Martin received from the company, he was instrumental in assisting the train driver in isolating the electrical supply to the third rail by placing the short circuit bar on the running and conductor rail. Martin offered assistance to the woman until the emergency services arrived. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that if the CPS did not withdraw these charges it could result in grave consequences for the rail industry in general, leaving staff with no level of protection regardless if they even follow agreed company training procedures whilst carrying out door operating procedures. should forsake some of its dividends to pay keep the guards and if it does not do so voluntarily then Merseytravel should renegotiate its contract with Merseyrail. If Merseyrail won’t cooperate then, when their contract expires in 2028, any new contract should ensure that revenues are retained to keep the guards - this is easily achievable as the new trains are to be brought through a 30 year long financing deal. NORTHERN RAIL Pickets were also out across Norther Rail as members fight for passenger safety and the retention of the guard on the services and the response was reported to be ‘fantastic’. Mick Cash said that franchise holder Arriva Rail North should now listen to their staff, listen to the public and recognise that there is no case whatsoever for axing the guard from their trains. "This action could have been avoided if Arriva hadn't back pedalled from earlier pledges to retain the guard. “It is now down to the company to engage with the union in talks over a safe and sustainable future built around the guarantee of a guard on the trains," he said. DEFEND MARTIN ZEE!