Members of the RMT union have voted for strike action on the 13th March.
Guards and driver members on Arriva Rail North, the Company behind Northern Rail have voted for both strike action and action short of a strike after the company failed to give assurances on the future role of the guard on their services.
The dispute surrounds the controversy over drivers having to operate doors on trains, in similar circumstances to that which has effected Southern Rail.
Members voted by 83.6% for strike action and by 93.5% for action short of a strike.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT members have voted by a massive majority for both strike action and action short of a strike on Arriva Rail North in a dispute which is all about putting public safety before private profit. The company now has the best part of two weeks to sit down with us, address the core issues at the heart of this dispute and negotiate a settlement before the action commences.”
He added
“The union’s position on Driver Only Operation (DOO) is perfectly clear. We will not agree to any extensions of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train. The company have been made well aware of that.”
“This dispute, and the campaign of industrial action we have announced today, were entirely preventable if the company had listened to the unions deep-seated safety concerns, had taken them seriously, stuck to their earlier commitments and had put passenger safety before profit.
“The company’s intransigence has forced our hand and given us to option but to announce industrial action. The disruption to services will be entirely down to Arriva Rail North reneging on their earlier commitments. The union remains available for genuine and meaningful talks and we expect the company to take up that offer as a matter of urgency.”
