SOLID EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS STRIKE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2019 :: RMTnews 4 R MT took a fourth day of solid strike action on East Midlands Trains last month the day before new franchise holder Abellio over from Stagecoach. Stagecoach stands accused of cutting and running before being dumped from the rail network in a row with the government over pension obligations. Abellio, which is owned by the Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, won the contract back in April and took control of East Midlands Trains last month. The dispute is over EMT’s management’s failure to bring a meaningful resolution to RMT members’ concerns over Sunday working, pay discrimination and Contract issues. RMT is calling on Abellio to do the right thing and enter into meaningful talks as the new franchise holder to help bring a resolution to this long- standing dispute. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that RMT senior conductors on East Midlands Trains took further strike action because of management’s intransigence and lack of commitment to deal with contractual issues such as compulsory Sunday working, wage discrimination and other matters. “I want to congratulate members for their magnificent show of strength during the previous weekends of rock-solid action in their fight for decent working conditions and respect at work. “Abellio, as the new franchise holder need to do the right thing and put an end the bad practices of the previous franchise holder and enter into meaningful talks that can bring an end to the dispute,” he said. He said that members on East Midlands Trains were standing firm as Stagecoach attack pay and working conditions before the government ban them from the railways in the wake of the pensions row. "The disruption is solely down to the slash and burn tactics of Stagecoach as they run their franchises down before they are booted off the railway. It is the company's hostile attitude to their staff that has forced us to strike again today and put a further day of action on in a fortnight's time. "RMT remains available for talks but we know when we are being strung along and I repeat the call for the company to stop playing games, cut the excuses and get back round the table ." he said. R MT suspended strike action on Merseyrail last month following a positive meeting with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, MerseyTravel and RMT and fresh proposals have been made which represent significant progress towards addressing union concerns. RMT agreed to suspend industrial action called for August 24 and September 3 and 5 to allow further negotiations on the crucial issue of a safe method of train dispatch. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that RMT members on Merseyrail remained ready to take action after 15 months of difficult negotiations with the company at ACAS failed to agree a safe method of despatch. “We have made it clear right from the off that this trade union will not compromise on passenger safety and the company know that. “We have reached a point where our members feel so strongly that the proposed method of dispatch for the new trains is a less safe option that they are prepared to go back to the picket lines and demand an operational role that applies to all Merseyrail stations that the new trains call at. “Crucially, the train drivers take the same view as the guards that operate the trains day in and day out and if they are saying that they can’t accept the proposed method of operation then they must be listened to,” he said. Detailed discussions are planned with specified review periods. MERSEYRAIL STRIKES SUSPENDED MT took a fourth day of y members’ concerns over Sunday “I want to congratulate railways in the wake of the SOLID EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS STRIKE Lincoln