16 August 2019
RMT Press Office
Fourth day of strike action goes ahead on East Midlands Trains tomorrow on eve of Abellio franchise handover
Rail union RMT has confirmed that a fourth day of strike action will go ahead tomorrow on East Midlands Trains the day before new franchise holder Abellio takes over from Stagecoach.
Stagecoach stands accused of cutting and running before being dumped from the rail network in a row with the government over pension obligations. Abellio, which is owned by the Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, won the contract back in April and takes control of East Midlands Trains on 18th August.
The dispute is over EMT’s management’s failure to bring a meaningful resolution to RMT members’ concerns over Sunday working, Pay Discrimination and Contract issues.
As a result of the company tactics all RMT EMT Senior Conductors are instructed to take strike action as outlined below:
Members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:
• 00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 17th August 2019
RMT is calling on Abellio to do the right thing and enter into meaningful talks as the new franchise holder to help bring a resolution to this long-standing dispute.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“RMT Senior Conductors on East Midlands Trains are taking further strike action tomorrow because of management’s intransigence and lack of commitment to deal with contractual issues such as compulsory Sunday working, wage discrimination and other matters.
“I want to congratulate our members for their magnificent show of strength during the three previous weekends of rock solid action in their fight for decent working conditions and respect at work.
“Abellio, as the new franchise holder need to do the right thing and put an end the bad practices of the previous franchise holder and enter into meaningful talks that can bring an end to the dispute.
“The union remains available for talks but in the meantime our EMT members stand firm in their fight for justice.”
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