NO TO DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2019 :: RMTnews 16 up by the progress made in the long fight against Driver Only Operation. Ivor Riddell, Medway, gave the welcoming address telling delegates about the long local radical history of the area going back to the Peasants’ Revolt. Billy Kim, Liverpool No. 5, applauded the efforts of members who continue to fight against the introduction of driver-only and driver- controlled trains. Conference supported his call with regard to the on-going industrial dispute with Arriva Rail North reaffirming the union commits to three key points: • That there is an absolute 100 per cent guarantee that no trains will run without the second member of staff on board • That the second member of staff will be clearly designated as safety critical to the running of all services • That the second member of staff will retain the full suite of safety and operational competencies of the guard, and resolve to continue to fight to keep the guard on the train,” Billy said. Steve Shaw, Wigan opened a spirited discussion on the role of the guard. “Important decisions are to be made over the coming months on ARN, SWR, Merseyrail and WMT that will map out the future key roles and responsibilities of the affected guards within those respective companies. “It is imperative and essential that our negotiating teams are provided with clear instruction and guidance from our NEC before accepting any proposal from employers,” Steve said. Jeff Slee, Lewisham, Southward and Deptford said that he believed the union’s policy is clear, however achieving the policy in every instance on every company was dependent on local industrial strength. Jeff also led the call for conference to support the national demonstration in London against DOO on 26 April outside the headquarters “We are conducting a great campaign against DOO and have fought one of the best industrial disputes the trade union movement has fought for many years,” he said. Jim Buchanan, Dorset Rail moved a composited motion on behalf of his branch and Wigan calling for the union to mount an intensive campaign to highlight the correlation between guaranteed guards on the train and guaranteed access to services for all members of society. “It is clear that train guards provide an indispensable service which facilitates open access to rail services. A measure of a civilised society is accessibility to services for all members of downgrade this provision is both morally repugnant and retrograde step.” he said. RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley told delegates that they had won the argument with the public for keeping the guard on the train. Steve talked about the barriers to travel that face disabled people. “Every station needs to be staffed and it is discrimination that prevents disabled people from travelling from any station on any train at any time,” he said. Alex Gordon, Paddington No 1, explained to delegates that new Hitachi trains have such serious problems with their bodyside cameras that GWR NO TO DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION Train crew conference delegates discuss the need for a guard guarantee society. “Currently guaranteed guards mean guaranteed access any attempt to remove or of Keolis UK. The demonstration marks the third anniversary of the beginning of the dispute with Southern. including a direct role at the platform/train interface and train despatch “We believe our cause is just T he National Industrial Organising Conference of Train Crew and Shunting Grades met in Chatham recently buoyed