22 August 2021
RMT Press Office:
RMT members rock solid in East Midlands Railways disputes as company admit strike breakers have only one days training and aren't "safety competent".
RMT members rock solid in East Midlands Railways disputes as company admit strike breakers have only one days training and aren't "safety competent"
RAIL UNION RMT said that it's senior conductor and train manager members remain rock solid in separate East Midlands Railways disputes this morning as the company admit in internal communications that the strike breakers they have bussed in have only one days training and don't meet the most basic safety competency standards required of the regular staff members they are replacing.
A memo seen by RMT asking managers to volunteer to support the strike breaking operation says that ;
"Training for this role will be 1 day only and not the extensive training required for full safety critical competence."
In addition, the strike breakers are being offered a bounty of £270 per shift while the company snub talks that could resolve the disputes. The taxpayer which finances the EMR operation is effectively picking up the tab for this cynical operation.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said;
"Whilst our members are standing firm in these two separate disputes over contract and safety issues it is frankly appalling that East Midlands Railways are blatantly flouting the most basic of safety standards in a desperate bid to break the strike action.
"No one should be allowed to carry out the role of the guard without the basic safety competencies that are the benchmark of the rail industry. The fact that they are also being offered a bounty of £270 a day at taxpayer expense is just rubbing salt in the wounds.
"Instead of playing these dangerous games that gamble with both passenger and staff safety the company should be getting round the table with us and thrashing out a solution.
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