18 April 2018
RMT Press Office:
RMT confirms further action on Greater Anglia in fight over rail safety and the role of the guard
RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that members will strike for a further 24 hours on Saturday 5th May in a long running dispute over rail safety and the role of the guard.
In a message to members today RMT General Secretary Mick Cash says
"A further meeting has been held between Greater Anglia and RMT and following intense discussions, the company tabled their ‘best and final’ proposals. These proposals have recently been discussed at a staff side meeting with RMT Local and Company Council Reps where it was unanimously agreed that the company’s position was unacceptable.
"Greater Anglia remains adamant that the role of the guard will have no involvement in the releasing or closing of the train doors. The proposal stipulates that ‘train drivers will operate the train doors and undertake train despatch in normal circumstances.’
"RMT Reps are of the view that the ‘guarantees’ given by the company are unreliable and that their proposed review on the ‘utilisation of Conductors’ would be ‘concluded in readiness for the May 2019 timetable’. Our Reps are also of the view that the company cannot be trusted to preserve a safety critically trained employee let alone a guard on every train and the company’s exceptional circumstances clause was open to obvious abuse.
"The vital safety role of the guard is still under threat and the extension of DOO remains a serious risk. Therefore, the matter has been considered by the union’s National Executive Committee which has now instructed our Greater Anglia Conductor and Senior Conductor members to take the following industrial action: "Members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:
* 00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 5th May 2018
"Additionally, members are instructed not to work additional Sundays beyond your agreed rostered Sundays as from 23.59 hours on Saturday 5th May 2018.
"Once again, I would like to congratulate our members for their continuous show of strength and solidarity throughout this long dispute which is solely about putting rail safety before private profit."
Ends
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