22 November 2017
RMT Press Office:
As MPs prepare to debate Merseyrail guards’ action RMT sets out road map to resolve dispute.
As MPs prepare to debate the Merseyrail guards’ industrial action at Westminster this evening RMT General Secretary Mick Cash has written to the Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and other political leaders in the Liverpool City Region proposing a road map to resolve the dispute.
In the letter RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,
“Thank you for your letter of 16th November 2017 proposing independent conciliation to resolve this dispute which you sent to RMT and Merseyrail.
RMT is always ready to go the extra mile to resolve this dispute and we await confirmation of any talks from the recognised independent conciliator, ACAS, to see if they can assist.
But he who pays the piper plays the tune and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is ultimately paying Merseyrail and only you can tell them to change their tune to end this dispute.
Therefore for these discussions to be meaningful they have to be underpinned by the following two commitments from you.
Firstly whilst it was the council leaders who kick started this dispute in first place by voting for the introduction of driver only trains it is now the Metro Mayor and the same council leaders who can assist in resolving this dispute by publicly telling Merseyrail you support keeping a guard on every train.
Secondly you will ensure Merseyrail, and not the Merseyside tax payers, are liable for any lost revenues as a result of the dispute. At the moment Merseyrail have no incentive to settle the dispute because the terms of their contract means it will be the Merseyside taxpayer who pick up the costs.
If your proposal for independent conciliation is not underpinned by these commitments then passengers will conclude you are merely engaged in a political stunt.
My official John Tilley had previously wrote to you over six weeks ago seeking a meeting to set out a road map to assist in resolving this dispute and bar an acknowledgment from the Metro Mayor there has been no response. I therefore look forward to a prompt reply to this letter.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The parliamentary debate has been secured by Dan Carden, Labour MP for Liverpool, Walton
The letter from Mick Cash has been sent to and in response to a letter from the below which was sent to:
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool
Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council
Cllr Andy Moorhead, Leader of Knowsley Council
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council
Cllr Barrie Grunewald, Leader of St Helens Council
Cllr Phil Davies Leader of Wirral Council
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