Rail passengers warned of strike action all month
NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH DAY OF ACTION BY TRANSPORT WORKERS
RAIL passengers in the North East face further disruption in January with weekly strikes planned.
Rail, Maritime and Transport Union says members will taking industrial action today – New Year’s Eve – and throughout January, as a dispute over plans to cut guards from trains enters its third year.
Arriva Rail North (Northern) services are set for disruption today as there is a 24-hour strike planned.
Further stoppages are planned for every Saturday throughout January.
Northern runs services throughout the North East, connecting Newcastle with Carlisle, via Hexham; Morpeth; Sunderland and to Middlesbrough. Its network also includes the likes of Leeds, Manchester and Manchester Airport. Passengers can expect disrupted timetables, with buses replacing trains on some routes. Customers with advance tickets whose trains are delayed by at least 15 minutes may be able to claim compensation.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Throughout 2018, RMT members have fought for the principles of a publicly owned, safe and accessible transport network for all.
“In 2019, we will be stepping up that campaign as the Tory Government teeters on the brink and the prospect of sweeping away years of private greed and austerity grows by the day.
“I want to pay particular tribute to RMT members on Northern and South Western Railway striking again this weekend and on New Year’s Eve in a long-running battle to put public safety before private profit.
“They are a credit to the entire trade union movement. We have major pay campaigns looming large on our agenda early in the new year, notably on Network Rail and London Underground, and the union has made it absolutely clear that we will not accept any attempt to undermine our members’ standard of living and that we will fight to ensure that those standards are both protected and enhanced.”
Northern has called for an independent inquiry into the dispute in a bid to break the deadlock. Managing director David Brown said: “More than 50% of all rail journeys in the UK are made on driver-controlled trains and recently the Department for Transport and Transport for the North publicly confirmed that a second person – in addition to the driver – would be retained on Northern services.
“This second person will provide customer service, including meeting customer needs on accessibility, safety, security, ticketing and information.
“Therefore, there is no reason for the RMT to continue its disruptive and economically damaging strikes but despite this, the RMT continues with its strike action.”
Northern said it has promised conductors their future role will be on board trains, guaranteeing that role until at least 2025, their current pay will be protected and that it will be reviewed annually if RMT ends the dispute.