2 August 2019
RMT Press Office:
Third day of strike action goes ahead on East Midlands tomorrow as Stagecoach cut and run
Rail union RMT has confirmed that a third day of strike action will go ahead tomorrow on East Midlands Trains as franchise holder Stagecoach stands accused of cutting and running before they are dumped from the rail network in a row with the government over pension obligations.
The dispute is over EMT’s management’s failure to bring a meaningful resolution to RMT members’ concerns over Pay Discrimination and Contract issues. Staff are being expected to take the flack as Stagecoach and the DfT fight it out in the continuing franchise chaos that has been created by privatisation of Britain’s railways.
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 3rd August 2019
In addition to Saturday’ strike action a further 24 hour strike has been announced on Saturday 17th August as the union ramps up its campaign.
RMT has made every effort to broker a negotiated settlement but has been scuppered at every attempt by the Stagecoach-owned company which has prioritised extracting every penny they can before they are kicked off the railways in light of the pensions scandal.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“RMT Senior Conductors on East Midlands Trains have been forced to take 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 last two weekends of rock solid action in their fight for decent working conditions and respect at work. They have shown that they will not be left to pay a heavy personal price as Stagecoach cut and run from their remaining franchises in advance of getting banned from the railway by the DfT.
“The union remains available for talks but in the meantime our EMT members stand firm in their fight for justice.”
Ends
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