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Fresh rail strikes announced for 30 May | Fresh rail strikes announced for 30 May |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Employees at three rail companies are to stage strikes, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has said. | Employees at three rail companies are to stage strikes, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has said. |
RMT members at Southern Railway, Merseyrail and Northern (Arriva Rail North) will walk out on 30 May. | RMT members at Southern Railway, Merseyrail and Northern (Arriva Rail North) will walk out on 30 May. |
The 24-hour strike is the latest in a bitter dispute over staffing and plans to introduce new driver-operated-only (DOO) trains. | The 24-hour strike is the latest in a bitter dispute over staffing and plans to introduce new driver-operated-only (DOO) trains. |
It will be the 32nd day of industrial action by Southern workers, who started holding strikes a year ago. | It will be the 32nd day of industrial action by Southern workers, who started holding strikes a year ago. |
Talks on Monday between the RMT and Southern were adjourned for both sides to "consider their positions". | Talks on Monday between the RMT and Southern were adjourned for both sides to "consider their positions". |
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which owns Southern, replaced conductors with "on-board supervisors" (OBS) to work across different services but without the responsibility of closing doors - which has switched to train drivers. | |
The union said its decision to announce fresh industrial action comes in response to Southern revealing during Monday's negotiations that more than 8,000 trains a year will run without an OBS. | The union said its decision to announce fresh industrial action comes in response to Southern revealing during Monday's negotiations that more than 8,000 trains a year will run without an OBS. |
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, added: "That represents a serious safety and accessibility risk and short of the guarantee of a second safety qualified member of staff." | Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, added: "That represents a serious safety and accessibility risk and short of the guarantee of a second safety qualified member of staff." |
Andy Bindon, a director at GTR, said it was "hugely disappointed" with the strike, and added: "The RMT's proposals would mean cancelling trains and reducing service levels to our passengers. | Andy Bindon, a director at GTR, said it was "hugely disappointed" with the strike, and added: "The RMT's proposals would mean cancelling trains and reducing service levels to our passengers. |
"Our service levels are stabilising at the highest we've seen in years and we cannot agree to anything which will jeopardise running trains and the service to our passengers." | "Our service levels are stabilising at the highest we've seen in years and we cannot agree to anything which will jeopardise running trains and the service to our passengers." |
'Angry and frustrated' | 'Angry and frustrated' |
In its dispute with Northern, Mr Cash said the union was "angry and frustrated" with the company's planned policy of a minimum of 50% DOO trains. | In its dispute with Northern, Mr Cash said the union was "angry and frustrated" with the company's planned policy of a minimum of 50% DOO trains. |
Richard Allan, deputy managing director of Northern, said changes needed to be made to the on-board role as the railway is modernised. | Richard Allan, deputy managing director of Northern, said changes needed to be made to the on-board role as the railway is modernised. |
He added: "We believe we would keep a second person on many of our services and, at some locations, we may choose to staff the station to give better support to customers." | He added: "We believe we would keep a second person on many of our services and, at some locations, we may choose to staff the station to give better support to customers." |
The company is also offering to protect workers' jobs and pay, and offer annual pay reviews for existing conductors if a deal is agreed. | The company is also offering to protect workers' jobs and pay, and offer annual pay reviews for existing conductors if a deal is agreed. |
The RMT said Merseyrail's "pig-headed attitude" had forced its hand to strike for a third time. | The RMT said Merseyrail's "pig-headed attitude" had forced its hand to strike for a third time. |
The union claimed that during talks Merseyrail had refused to set up a "safety working group", alongside external safety bodies and the train manufacturer Stadler, on the principle that a second safety-critical person would be retained across all services. | The union claimed that during talks Merseyrail had refused to set up a "safety working group", alongside external safety bodies and the train manufacturer Stadler, on the principle that a second safety-critical person would be retained across all services. |
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail's managing director, said the region was becoming a "pawn in the RMT's national game". | Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail's managing director, said the region was becoming a "pawn in the RMT's national game". |
He added: "We had several meetings with the RMT. In the last one, Merseyrail put forward a number of initiatives, which we were willing to explore through a series of working groups. | He added: "We had several meetings with the RMT. In the last one, Merseyrail put forward a number of initiatives, which we were willing to explore through a series of working groups. |
"These included having a second member of staff on trains after 8pm. Unfortunately, the RMT would not talk about these things unless we committed to a second safety critical person on every single train." | "These included having a second member of staff on trains after 8pm. Unfortunately, the RMT would not talk about these things unless we committed to a second safety critical person on every single train." |
Members of drivers' union Aslef - also involved in a row with Southern over the same issue - rejected a deal with the train operator in February, and again last month. | Members of drivers' union Aslef - also involved in a row with Southern over the same issue - rejected a deal with the train operator in February, and again last month. |