BREAKTHROUGH ON MERSEYRAIL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2019 :: RMTnews 5 RMT has suspended all industrial action in the long- running dispute on Merseyrail after the company tabled an offer that guarantees both a guard on the train and the safety-critical role of that guard in the despatch process and ensures the safest possible method by having guards close the train doors at the platform/train interface. The breakthrough offer follows nearly three years of political, industrial and public campaigning by the union and after intense final negotiations between RMT and the company that ran late into evening. The Merseyrail proposals was examined in detail at a meeting of RMT reps and the National Executive and represent significant movement on the crucial despatch issue that has enabled the union to suspend all action in the current dispute. There is further work to do now around the fine detail but the union is committed in principle to the despatch procedure and to taking that process forwards with a view to getting a final deal over the line. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the breakthrough in the long-running dispute had been achieved after years of hard campaigning and he paid tribute to RMT members prepared to put themselves on the line at significant personal cost to defend safety and accessibility on the railway. "The progress that has been achieved has been extraordinary. “We have pushed back from the threat of wholesale driver- only operation across Merseyrail to not only a guarantee of a guard on every train but a guarantee that that guard will retain a safety-critical role in the despatch process including the most operationally safe method of guards closing the doors at the platform/train interface. That is a significant development that will resonate throughout the rail industry. “I want to thank our negotiating team, led by our regional organiser John Tilley, who have worked tirelessly to pin down the crucial movement that has resulted in this offer which gives us enough in principle to suspend all planned action in the dispute. “There is some further work to do now around the fine detail but the union remains committed, as we have been right from the start, to getting a final deal over the line that protects both the guard and their safety-critical role on Merseyrail trains,” he said. I ndustrial action on Cross Country Trains was suspended last month after a long-running dispute concerning breaches to the collective bargaining agreements and the imposition of changes to agreements was settled. The Cross Country Company Council and the lead officer will be having further meetings to discuss the disciplinary procedure and flexible working agreements and the union has agreed that a dispute situation no longer exists. The union had planned a programme of industrial action including action short of strike action involving not working on rest-day or non-contractual overtime. RMT general secretary Mick Cash congratulated members for the solidarity displayed throughout what hade been a long and difficult dispute. “Your unity and strength has brought this matter to a satisfactory conclusion and one again it shows perfectly clearly what we can achieve by standing united. “Employers cannot be allowed to undermine and disregard this union and must be sent a clear message that this will not be tolerated,” he said. BREAKTHROUGH ON MERSEYRAIL RMT suspends strike action after breakthrough on the safety-critical role of the guard CROSS COUNTRY TRAINS WIN