Merseyrail guards plan more strikes for March
MERSEYRAIL guards will again go on strike next month. Guards from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on Thursday announced the latest action in the long-running dispute over the planned introduction of driver-only trains onto the network.
The industrial action will take place on Saturday, March 3, almost a year since the first strike took place.
Merseyrail says guards will not be needed on its £460m new fleet of trains, which is to come into service from 2020, but the RMT says that guards are vital for passenger safety.
RMT staff on Northern Rail services in and out of Lime Street will also be striking.
In a statement, the union said: “RMT today announced further strike action on Saturday 3 March in separate disputes with train operating companies Northern and Merseyrail over attacks on the role of the safetycritical guard and the extension of driver only operation in the name of increased profits.”
Members on Northern and Merseyrail, have been instructed not to book on for any shifts between 00.01 and 23.59 on Saturday, March 3.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with Northern and Merseyrail over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces.
“No-one should be in any doubt, these disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the profits of the private train companies.
“It is frankly ludicrous that we have been able to negotiate long-term arrangements in Scotland and Wales that protect the guards and passenger safety but we are being denied the same opportunities with rail companies in England.
“Theresa May and Chris Grayling are happy to stand aside and cheer on overseas rail companies that rip-off the British passenger with eye-watering fare increases to subsidise their domestic transport operations while throwing the guards off our trains. If it’s good enough for Wales and Scotland to put safety first then it’s good enough for the rest of the UK.
“RMT remains ready for talks in both of these disputes.”
Andy Heath, Merseyrail managing director, said: “Yet again the RMT has announced a further strike, remaining entrenched in a position which is to oppose any form of change with no desire to meet with us and reach an agreement.
“We have continually sought to reach a compromised solution, however, the RMT remain intent on causing disruption to our customers. We will endeavour to provide the best possible rail service that we can to our customers, with the resources we have available, as we have been providing on previous strike days.
“I would again urge our guards to reconsider their strike action at a time when we should really be in talks about how we can work together to give you clarity and security about your future, building on our commitment to guarantee you a job within our business.
“Talking is the only way that can be achieved.”