Rail strikes at an end as guards row settled
LONG-RUNNING strikes on Northern Rail over guards on trains have finally been suspended, after “substantial progress” aimed at resolving the bitter dispute.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at ARN (Northern) have taken 47 days of industrial action and had been due to walk out last Saturday and February 16.
But now a breakthrough has been made between the two parties, with RMT saying the company had offered a guarantee of a conductor on all trains during talks at the conciliation service, Acas.
The action has caused huge disruption for rail passengers, including those travelling between Southport and Manchester, since the row began two years ago.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “I want to pay tribute to RMT’s members on Northern Rail whose resilience and determination through two years and 47 days of action has been the foundation on which today’s major breakthrough has been based.
“I also want to thank the travelling public for their extraordinary support and both Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram (Manchester and Liverpool Mayors) for their efforts that have been important in allowing us to break the deadlock today. [The] offer of a guarantee of a conductor on all services throughout the duration of the franchise, including the new fleet, is the substantial progress we have been pushing for and has allowed RMT’s executive to take the decision to suspend the current action and allow for further talks to now take place with all stakeholders around the operational details.”
Northern was unable to return to a full schedule at short notice for last Saturday, but the company expects to do so this weekend.
Managing director of Northern, David Brown, said: “We warmly welcome RMT’s decision to suspend its strike action and recommence talks about what the future role of the conductor looks like.
“We have been very clear in these discussions that there will be a conductor on all our trains now and into the future.
“We are looking forward to further positive talks with RMT about operational models moving ahead, so that we can resolve their despite and bring it to an end.
“The suspension of the RMT strikes is good news for customers and businesses across the North.”