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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2017 :: RMTnews 6 R MT ordered three days of strike action in July on Merseyrail after the company refused to discuss the crucial issue at the heart of the dispute - the future of the safety critical role of the guard. Members are angry that Merseyrail continues to turn down a union proposal to set up a “safety working group”, alongside outside safety bodies and the train manufacturer Stadler, on the principle that a second safety-critical person would be retained on all services. The company has refused all efforts by the union to get a serious and meaningful talks back underway. RMT’s executive has paid tribute to the Merseyrail members who had already taken two days of rock solid action and mounted a highly effective picketing operation on those strike days with fantastic levels of public support. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was disgraceful that Merseyrail continued to refuse all reasonable attempts by the union to settle this dispute. Merseyrail have repeatedly kicked all conciliatory approaches by RMT negotiators back in our faces and made it crystal clear that all that they are interested in is the union signing a surrender document which gives them a free hand to rip apart the safety culture on the railway. “It is that cynical and hostile stance from Merseyrail which has left us with no option but to put on this further round of strike action. “RMT recognises the severe impact that the action will have but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union on the critical issue of safe rail operation and we ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take this high- profile action to force the company back to the negotiating table. “Merseyrail is completely ignoring the clear wishes of their own passengers, who overwhelmingly oppose the idea of Driver Only Operated trains on their network. “That pig-headed attitude has forced the union’s hand and the idea that we would compromise on the fundamental issue of rail safety is absurd,” he said. MERSEYRAIL FIGHT TO RETAIN SAFETY- CRITICAL GUARDS