EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY REFUSES TO ACT

R MT is in dispute with Cross Country trains over the failure of the company to revise its procedures and risk assessments in light of the emergence of the new COVID variant. Cross Country’s approach is that little has changed and that revenue duties should continue in conjunction with previous risk assessments which the union says are wholly inadequate in the face of the new highly virulent COVID strain that has triggered the current lockdown. RMT has requested a cessation of revenue duties pending a review and possible amendments to risk assessments, this has been flatly rejected by Cross Country and it is this cavalier and irresponsible attitude from the company that has provoked the dispute. RMT has informed the company that it is now in dispute with them and is writing to all our affected members - Train Managers, Senior Conductors, and Revenue Support specialist grades - rebutting the company’s irresponsible claims and advising members not to undertake revenue collection duties as laid out in the current, wholly inadequate, risk assessment guidance and to invoke the company’s work safe procedure. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2021 :: RMTnews 12  RMT is demanding that East Midlands Railway stop ignoring the science, start taking the threat to lives posed by the new variant of COVID-19 seriously and take immediate action to review and rewrite risk assessments to reflect the current, dire situation. The union also issued fresh advice to all members to ‘safe stop’ should they be asked to work in conditions they regard as being unsafe. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was scandalous that EMR appeared to be the only people in the country who didn't recognise the increased threat to life of the new COVID variant and are carrying on like nothing has changed. “This union will not tolerate that cavalier approach to both staff and passengers alike. “In a survey our members have made it clear that they are deeply concerned and we are collecting evidence of the failed and botched "deep clean" the company have promised on their trains. “We have written to the company and we expect immediate and decisive action to address our concerns,” he said. The union is also in the process of balloting all our EMR senior conductor members for industrial action following the massive rejection of the company's pay offer. The ballot will open on January 13 2021 and will close February 2 2021. EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY REFUSES TO ACT RMT slams company for playing fast and loose with lives for not taking new variant of COVID seriously ON THE WRONG TRACK CROSS COUNTRY DISPUTE OVER NEW COVID VARIANT FIRST TIME UNLUCKY: The first journey of the first train on the newly electrified line between Switzerland and Germany ended last month with a major breakdown. The Euro-City-Express "Astoro" train was marooned after it was diverted to a track without overhead line near Hergatz in in Germany. The long-distance train was pulled from Hergatz station by a diesel locomotive.