RMT seeks meeting with Liverpool Mayor over Merseyrail

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash has written to Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson seeking an urgent meeting in an effort to resolve the Merseyrail guards dispute.

In response to a major intervention by the Mayor into the dispute at the weekend, including a written request by the Mayor for the RMT to call off the strike set to take place on 8th April, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said in his letter today that he is calling for an intervention by the Mayor to break the current impasse.

Mick Cash has also highlighted again the enormous profits Dutch state owned Merseyrail are making – sums of money that would easily cover the cost of retaining guards on the trains.

In his letter to Joe Andserson Mick Cash says:

“…there is an opportunity for both having modern new trains and keeping a guard on the train yet the company have refused point blank to agree to this. It seems that the company position is that the new trains will be paid for by passengers losing their guards and our members losing their jobs while the company lose nothing, instead carrying on making a huge profit - with much of these profits going to Dutch state owned Abellio.

I would like to know as Mayor or Liverpool what exactly you plan to do to assist in resolving this dispute.

The people of Liverpool, and our members, will also want to know whether are you going to side with the private operators SERCO and Dutch state owned Abellio, who own Merseyrail, or with the passengers and the unions who wish to keep the guarantee of a guard on their trains. “

A full text of the letter is below.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“Joe Anderson has chosen to wade into our dispute with Merseyrail and that intervention opens up an opportunity for the Mayor to get actively involved in helping us to negotiate a solution.

“RMT stands ready to engage in that process and we now expect the Mayor to use his offices to bring the parties back together and broker a new talks process that homes in on the core issues of safety and finance at the core of this dispute.”
Ends.
Further information:
Geoff Martin
07831 465 103
Editor’s Note:
A full text of the letter is below.

28th March 2017
Joe Anderson
Mayor of Liverpool
Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2DH



Dear Joe

Thank you for your letter dated 24 March.

I shall not comment on the contents of a private conversation but as you have decided to intervene in this dispute and formally written to me requesting that the union calls off the action planned for the 8th April 2017 I am now calling for an urgent meeting with you to see if you and I can find a way to break the current impasse.

As you have written to RMT I would also like confirmation that you have also written to Meresyrail and their owners Serco and Dutch state owned Abellio. This is an important question because as you know the current action has been called as a result of the failed discussions with Merseyrail on Monday 20 March.

You will also know Merseyrail are taking out almost a quarter of all passenger fares to make profits in the region of £14 million a year. At the meeting, and in light of these eye watering profits paid for by Merseyrail passengers, our negotiators sought confirmation from Merseyrail that they would contribute towards the £5 million it is claimed is required to keep guards on the train.

I hope you will agree that the maths clearly show that there is an opportunity for both having modern new trains and keeping a guard on the train yet the company have refused point blank to agree to this. It seems that the company position is that the new trains will be paid for by passengers losing their guards and our members losing their jobs while the company lose nothing, instead carrying on making a huge profit - with much of these profits going to Dutch state owned Abellio.

Therefore at our meeting I would like to know as Mayor or Liverpool what exactly you plan to do to assist in resolving this dispute.
The people of Liverpool and our members will also want to know whether are you going to side with the private operators SERCO and Dutch state owned Abellio, who own Merseyrail, or with the passengers and the unions who wish to keep the guarantee of a guard on their trains.

My office will be in contact with yours to arrange a meeting as a matter of urgency.