
16 June 2021
RMT Press Office:
RMT calls for urgent progress to be made over introduction of new Merseyrail fleet with the guard guarantee enshrined.
RAIL UNION RMT today called for urgent progress to be made over the introduction of the new fleet of Merseyrail trains warning that the expensive new units are being left to rust in the sidings at serious cost to the taxpayer.
The union will be involved in talks with the Metro Mayor and Merseytravel later this month and is looking to move forward the “agreement in principle” that would guarantee a safety-critical guard on every train and at last bring the new fleet into full operation.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said;
“RMT negotiated with Merseyrail and the City Region, an “agreement in principle” over eighteen months ago. That draft agreement would have resolved this long running dispute and moved the process onto an agreement with the train drivers representatives and introduction of the new trains.
“We have had no discussions with any of the parties for over a year despite repeated calls from RMT for progress. Now as we predicted, these brand new trains, paid for by the Merseyside Council tax payers, are being sent to storage at great additional cost.
“We note and welcome the meeting that’s finally been arranged for 29th June, with the newly re-elected Metro Mayor and Merseytravel leaders. We will be seeking to end this five-year long dispute, building on the “agreement in principle” previously reached, that secures RMTs demand, supported by the Merseyside public, of retaining a safety critical Guard on board, and finally puts these new trains into service, and not into storage sidings around the UK gathering rust.”