SCOTRAIL ACTION

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2018 :: RMTnews 5 RMT launched an indefinite ban on overtime and rest day working on Abellio Scotrail this month after members voted overwhelmingly for action in a dispute over equality and justice for all grades over rest day working payments. Following the ballot result RMT's lead officer Gordon Martin attended an Avoidance of Disputes meeting with the company but regrettably Scotrail refused to change its position. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the dispute was about equality and justice across grades in the Scotrail workplace. "It cannot be right that the company seem to value one group of workers over another. Their approach to the rest day working payments, where they have only offered driver grades enhanced arrangements is nothing short of discriminatory. "A driver working rest days is no different than any other member of front line staff working rest days and each member is giving their rest time back to help the company to help run a service to passengers. "All staff should be treated equally and fairly and that is all that the union is calling for. We remain available for further genuine and meaningful talks,” he said. SCOTRAIL ACTION LOBBY: Demanding a guard guarantee at the launch of the new ARN Class 195 and 331 units at the Edge Hill Train Care Centre Guildford Blackburn violent and dangerous railways gives a green light to the muggers, sexual predators and racists and should be halted and reversed immediately,” he said. The SWR action was announced in the wake of a new ballot which took place under the terms of the latest wave of Tory anti-union laws where an overwhelming 88 per cent of members voted to continue with the current action in defence of safety, security and access, proving that staff remain rock- solid in the campaign for a safe and accessible railway for all. RMT also said that the new Northern trains unveiled in Liverpool earlier this month were long overdue – but they had to be run safely with properly trained guards. As the new Class 195 and 331 units were run out for the first time at Edge Hill, RMT campaigners lobbied to demand that profit-hungry operator Arriva guarantees a safety- critical guard on every train. “The North is desperate for these new trains, but rail passengers across Britain are also clear that they need guards aboard to keep them safe and accessible. “These new trains are configured to operate with a guard, but the company would rather run them without – and no wonder, because fewer staff means less cost and more profit. “RMT has campaigned for years for investment in new trains, but it is just as important to invest in the safety-trained staff to operate them properly, and poll after poll has shown that rail passengers agree with us. “The government has lied through its teeth about the impact of driver-only trains on accessibility, and our dispute with Arriva could be settled tomorrow if the company gave us the same guard-guarantee we have already established with other operators,” said Mick Cash.