15 February 2022
RMT Press Office:
RMT calls further action on CrossCountry trains this weekend in fight for jobs and safety.
RAIL UNION RMT said today that further strike action on CrossCountry trains will go ahead from Saturday over an assault on the safety critical role of senior conductors and train managers after the company snubbed a possible settlement in talks driven from the union side.
The union said that it is angry and frustrated that the company have thwarted all efforts by RMT reps to resolve the dispute.
RMT train managers and senior conductors have fought a long campaign for safety on their units after voting overwhelmingly for action as the company has sought to draft in other staff to carry out their roles.
As a result of the company's complete failure to take union proposals seriously or to come up with any resolution to the dispute themselves RMT is instructing all Cross Country Senior Conductor and Train Manager members to take further industrial action and not to book on for any shifts that commence between:
• 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Saturday 19th February 2022
• 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Saturday 5th March 2022
General Secretary Mick Lynch said;
“RMT's campaign is being solidly supported in all CrossCountry depots as members show their anger and disappointment that every attempt to reach a negotiated settlement in talks has been kicked into touch by CrossCountry.
“This dispute is about a systematic attempt by CrossCountry to undermine the role of the Senior Conductors and Train Managers by drafting in other staff to do their jobs.
“CrossCountry need to note the determination of our members in this dispute and understand that they already have trained and competent guards that are available and ready to work.
“This dispute could have been resolved months ago if our members were simply allowed to get on with their jobs rather than having their long-term futures and their safety critical roles threatened by this cash-led assault by CrossCountry . The company have knocked back that sensible and rational approach and that's why services will be disrupted again this weekend.
“We remain available for for further talks."
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