Train strike called off as talks continue

JULY ACTION OVER HAVING GUARDS ON TRAINS PUT ON HOLD AS UNION AND NORTHERN TALK

NORTHERN staff have called off strike action that had been planned for this month.

The long-running dispute between Unite the union and Northern bosses revolves around having guards on trains - a role which operators are looking to phase out.

Passengers have already suffered disruption through a number of strike days, but the walk-out planned for July 21 has now been suspended while discussions between Unite and Northern bosses continue.

Unite has said it is seeking a guarantee that a second staff member will be ‘present on every train.’

The latest reprieve follows months of disruption for Northern passengers, more recently blamed on a new timetable upset caused by delayed Network Rail works.

An emergency timetable is currently in place to allows for fewer cancellations. But on Sunday, travellers suffered yet more cancellations after a number of staff booked time off for the World Cup final.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said their negotiating team had been in talks with Arriva Rail North, which runs the franchise, for the past week.

He added: “Reports from RMT representatives and correspondence from the company have set out a process for reconvening talks around proposals to set up a joint working party to consider a range of options on the deployment of on-board staff, including a specific option of retaining a second safety critical person on board all ARN trains.

“RMT’s National Executive Committee has noted this situation and has stated that these talks must commence this week.

“Also, the union’s NEC has instructed our team to negotiate around the guarantee of a second person on every train and their safety critical responsibilities in the first instance.”

He said weekly updates would be given to the national executive council (NEC) on their progress, adding: “As a result of this situation, the NEC has suspended the industrial action which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 21, and our members are instructed to work as normal on that date.”

Northern has responded to RMT’s decision. Richard Allan, Deputy managing director for Northern, said: “We are pleased that RMT has agreed to hold talks in a bid to resolve their ongoing dispute and has called off its strike action that was planned for Saturday July 21.

“This means that customers can plan their journeys based on a regular Saturday timetable.

“Northern is modernising local rail for customers, with £500m of new trains under construction, better stations and more services by 2020.

“We want to work with RMT to design and shape the future onboard role for colleagues to help deliver better customer service.”