
18 January 2019
RMT Press Office:
RMT says 45th day of strike action goes ahead on Northern tomorrow in defence of safety as German owners put company up for sale.
RAIL UNION RMT said today that a 45th day of strike action on Northern Rail goes ahead as planned tomorrow in defence of rail safety and the role of the guard.
Tomorrow’s strike takes place as the company continues to refuse to engage in serious and meaningful talks around the guard guarantee that could form the basis for a settlement, and at the same time as Arriva is put up for sale by Deutsche Bahn, as they look to unload the basket-case operator.
The union has accused German-owned Arriva of deliberately seeking continued confrontation, while they milk taxpayer-funded bailout payments to fatten up the asset for sale to whatever bunch of chancers fancy a run at ripping off passengers across the Northern routes.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT members will be standing solid again tomorrow for the 45th day in support of a safe and accessible railway for all in the long-running fight to put public safety before private profit.
“Meanwhile the company refuses to lift the axe from above the heads of their safety critical guards, and instead concentrates on sweating the assets for every penny in advance of a sell off.
“The fact that the basket case Arriva outfit is now being touted around for sale by its German owners shows why they have failed to resolve the Northern dispute – they are more focussed on flogging off the assets to the highest bidder.
“Now is the time for the Government to step in, strip Arriva of the Northern franchise, and take it into public ownership with safety and quality services placed top of the agenda.
“RMT continues to make every effort to get serious and meaningful talks going with Northern but the company prefers to ignore the safety concerns of their staff and the public alike in a show of complete and utter contempt.
“We thank the public for their support and understanding throughout this dispute over rail safety and access and the union remains ready for genuine and serious talks.”
ENDS
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Tagged with: northern, northern rail, arriva, arriva rail north, guards, conductors, doo, dco, driver only operation
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