RMT confirms Merseyrail Guards strike action goes ahead

22 August 2019

RMT Press Office:

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed that strike action will go ahead Saturday on Merseyrail as the company continues to fail deliver on the crucial issue of a safe method of train dispatch.

Saturday’s action is the first of a further six days of strike action that have been announced by the union in the long-running guards’ and safety dispute on Merseyrail.

The union’s executive have instructed our Merseyrail members not to book on for duty on the following dates:

Saturday 24th August 00.01-23.59 hrs
Tuesday 3rd September 00.01-23.59 hrs
Thursday 5th September 00.01-23.59 hrs
Monday 30th September 00.01-23.59 hrs
Wednesday 2nd October 00.01-23.59 hrs
Friday 4th October 00.01-23.59 hrs
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RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:

“RMT members on Merseyrail will be striking on Saturday after 15 months of difficult and disappointing negotiations with the company at ACAS failed to agree a safe method of despatch.

“We have reached a point where our members feel so strongly that the proposed method of dispatch for the new trains is a less safe option that they are prepared to go back to the picket lines and demand an operational role that applies to all Merseyrail stations that the new trains call at.

“Crucially, the train drivers take the same view that the Guard should be responsible for the safe dispatch of the train as they are now. It is these very Guards and Drivers that operate the trains day in and day out and if they are saying that they can’t accept the proposed method of operation then they must be listened to.”

Ends.