EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY 170 FLEET WRONG SIDE OPENINGS

Our ref: HSR/2/6

Head Office Circular: NP/192/23

27^th October 2023

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY 170 FLEET WRONG SIDE OPENINGS

 

Following receipt of a report from the Lead officer, your National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting on 19^th October 2023, resolved as follows:

 

We thank the Lead Officer for the report and note the concerns raised about the fact that our members are getting blamed for the wrong side door releases of the 170 fleet within EMR. 

 

Despite the incidents being brought to EMR's attention the lack of progress made by the company and the seriousness of the issue, the General Secretary is instructed to take urgent action and write to Dave Meredith, Acting Director for Customer Service for EMR, demanding urgent action. 

 

If the company fails to meet our demands, consideration should be given to escalating this into a formal dispute and balloting our members for industrial action. 

 

As an additional measure this report is also referred to the Health and Safety Sub Committee for further examination and report.

 

Your NEC, at its meeting on 24^th October, noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee

 

We note the decision of 19th October 2023 and the actions already taken.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to: write to the ORR demanding that EMR removes the 170s in question as there is an immediate threat to life; write to EMR demanding that the 170s be withdrawn as ignoring to do so could potentially lead to charges of corporate manslaughter; write to members reminding them of the employer’s Work Safe Procedure and RMT’s Serious and Imminent Danger policy.

 

This matter to be placed back before this NEC following a response from the company to RMT’s letter of 25th October, for consideration of escalation to a formal dispute situation and balloting of members for industrial action.

 

Relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be notified.

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members. 

 

Members are advised to refer to EMR’s Work Safe Procedure and also RMT’s guidance which can be viewed at: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/publications/serious-and-imminent-danger-booklet/

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary