8 March 2017
RMT Press Office:
RMT warns that Northern Rail bending the safety rules with "scab timetable"
RAIL UNION RMT warned today that the strike day "scab timetable" just released by Arriva Rail North for next Monday comes at the price of passenger safety with the union confirming that it will be monitoring and reporting breaches of agreed procedures to the safety regulator.
General Secretary Mick Cash said;
"Instead of winging it with this high-risk, scab timetable Arriva Rail North should be round the table with RMT working on a safe and sustainable future for their services.
"This dispute, and the campaign of industrial action we have announced today, were entirely preventable if the company had listened to the unions deep-seated safety concerns, had taken them seriously, stuck to their earlier commitments and had put passenger safety before profit.
"The company's intransigence has forced our hand and given us to option but to announce industrial action. The disruption to services on Monday will be entirely down to Arriva Rail North reneging on their earlier commitments.
"The union remains available for genuine and meaningful talks and we expect the company to take up that offer as a matter of urgency."
Ends.
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