Rail Union RMT has warned that Northern Rail are planning to shred the safety culture in the same way that they have shredded the timetables as it was confirmed that further strike action will be taking place over attacks on the role of the safety-critical guard and the extension of Driver Only Operations which the union says is in the name of increased profits.
The three days of strike action will take place on Tuesday 19th June, Thursday 21st June and Saturday 23rd June.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“We have seen over the past fortnight that Northern is a company which has declared war on its passengers and staff alike. RMT will not stand aside while the threat to axe safety critical guards from Northern services remains central to the company plans.
“This company has reduced the timetable to total chaos and the union will not allow them to slash the safety culture to ribbons in the same fashion.
“It is a tribute to the determination and professionalism of RMT members on Arriva Rail North that they have remained rock solid for over a year now in what is a clear-cut battle to put public safety before private profit.
“German-owned Northern Rail want to run half a million trains a year without a safety critical guard on board in a move that would wreck both safety and access to services and they should listen to their front-line staff and pull back from that plan immediately.
“RMT has agreed arrangements in Wales and Scotland that enshrine the guard guarantee. If it’s good enough for Wales and Scotland to have safe rail services it should be good enough for the rest of Britain.
“The failure to reach a solution to this dispute to date is solely down to the company and the union remains ready for genuine and meaningful talks.”
