Shapps holds firm as rail unions hold further ballots
A pause in national strikes by the RMT union does not mean that the rail dispute is over.
Indeed, the dispute is widening with ASLEF members striking at some operators while TSSA members are being balloted for strikes (see table).
While the TSSA and ASLEF have not called for national strikes (in both cases they are not in dispute with all companies), the various ballots represent a realisation of passengers’ fears of a summer of significant disruption.
An impasse has been reached. On the one hand, unions have reportedly rejected pay offers from Network Rail (RAIL 960) and have urged the Government to get involved in talks.
On the other, Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps countered by saying the strikes could easily be settled by modernising “antiquated” working practices.
In an interview with the BBC on June 29, Shapps described calls for him to intervene to settle the dispute as a “red herring” and a “stunt”. Outdated practices had to end for a resolution to be possible, he said, adding: “For example, two vans often have to be sent to a maintenance job when only one van is required.”
The RMT responded that Shapps was “talking complete nonsense”.
In the interview, Shapps acknowledged that he and the Treasury had set an overall mandate which dictated how much money was available, and that he had final sign-off on what was agreed.
But he said he didn’t (and shouldn’t) interfere with the detail of negotiations between the RMT and the industry, saying employers are “the only people who could settle this strike”.
Having taken legal advice from a QC, the TUC and RMT disagrees with this assertion (see separate story, pages 8-9).
The RMT, which held three days of national strikes on June 21, 23 and 25, said it is in “no hurry” to stage further strikes, although observers have commented that the union’s AGM being held in Birmingham from SundayFriday July 3-8 was a useful point at which to pause the announcement of further dates.
The dispute is not just about pay (although it is this year’s pay negotiations that have triggered the dispute with all three rail unions), with the RMT seeking the agreement of the train operators on four matters:
■ An end to the pay freeze in the industry, to be replaced with a pay increase in real terms.
■ A guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
■ An assurance of no detrimental changes to members’ working
practices, and terms and conditions.
■ An assurance that the defined benefits railways pension scheme will remain open and affordable to members, with scheme benefits protected.
While it is illegal for unions to actively co-ordinate their action to create a national strike, union sources observe that maximum disruption would be caused by each union striking on different days.
Once unions have a ballot for strikes, they can take place with two weeks’ notice. The mandates for strikes last six months, after which a fresh ballot is required.
Passengers and freight customers (affected by the lack of signallers) have been left guessing as to when further strikes might take place.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme on July 1, RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “I think we’ve made a pretty emphatic point with the strike action we put on. We don’t take these steps lightly. We’re in no rush to run into the boardroom and name further action.”
The RMT and Network Rail are initially trying to reach an agreement on job security, before discussing pay and conditions.
Dempsey said: “We’re progressing in terms of discussions. There are some fundamental issues of difficulty between us still, and that’s why we’re seeking feedback. But we haven’t gotten onto the question of pay yet.”
The agreement came as Network Rail’s lead negotiator, North West and Central Region MD Tim Shoveller, said he was “cautiously optimistic” that an agreement would be reached with the RMT to prevent further strikes.
Also speaking to Today, Shoveller said talks since the strike had been “constructive”.