20 October 2014
RMT Press Office
Following 24 hours of rock solid action earlier this month, which led to serious disruption to services, Arriva Trains Wales conductors working out of three key depots are to take a further 48 hours of strike action this week over the victimisation and dismissal of two union members through an outright abuse by the company of the sickness absence policy.
In a further escalation, RMT is also bringing in a ban on rest day working through into next month along with a withdrawal of goodwill and a refusal to work outside of boundaries and terms and conditions.
The full scale of the latest, escalated phase of action is as follows:
All ATW Conductor members at Holyhead, Chester and Llandudno Junction Depots to take the following strike action:
• Not to book on for any turns of duty that commence between 00.01 hours on Thursday 23rd October 2014 until 23.59 hours on Friday 24th October 2014
Additionally, the same members at Holyhead, Chester and Llandudno Junction Depots to take industrial action short of a strike between the following dates and times, as outlined below:
• Not to work any rest days, any over time or any additional Sundays outside your agreed roster from 23.59 hours on Saturday 25th October 2014 until 00.01 hours on Saturday 8th November 2014.
• Not to work outside the boundaries of your terms and conditions and to withdraw all goodwill towards the company from 23.59 hours on Saturday 25th October 2014 until 00.01 hours on Saturday 8th November 2014.
In the last phase of action, despite the rhetoric and bogus claims of the company, they were unable to run anything like a full service with trains forced to stop short of their destination and others services cancelled or seriously delayed. With, the escalation of the strike action, and the additional ban on rest day working and goodwill, the disruption to services will be severe if the company continue to pursue their victimisation of RMT members through a blatant and wilful abuse of agreed procedures.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said ;
“This escalation of industrial action has been caused wholly by the dismissal and victimisation of two RMT members following management’s failure to abide by the agreed procedures. They have deliberately chosen not to exercise discretion but have instead opted to take the hard line approach of dismissal, it is that action that has resulted in a total breakdown in industrial relations.
“In the previous round of action the company were forced to resort to a barrage of distortions, misinformation and subterfuge to try and hide the full impact of the strike from the public with many passengers angry at the fact they had been misled about the level of service. RMT will be working flat out to get the truth of both the reasons for the strike, and its impact, across to the travelling public.
“With the anger on the shop floor growing and spreading, RMT is in no doubt that our remembers will continue support the action and their victimised colleagues. The union remains available for talks aimed at resolving this dispute.”
ENDS
Unity House
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