05.01.18
Northern faces three days of strikes and shrunken timetable as talks break down
The RMT union will launch three days of strike action on Northern Rail services next week, as talks over train guards have broken down once again.
Strike action is set for 8, 10 and 12 January, and the operator has released a much-reduced timetable with just a little over 60% of services running.
Mick Cash, the RMT’s general secretary, has criticised the actions of Arriva, the company which runs the Northern franchise, for its handling of talks between the two parties. He argues that under the current proposals the company will run nearly half a million trains a year without a second member of staff on board.
However, Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, says the company is still dedicated to improving journeys and is prepared to guarantee jobs and pay for conductors until the franchise comes up for renewal in 2025 if an agreement can be reached.
“Northern is committed to investing in new and updated trains, better stations and faster journeys for our customers,” he commented. “Northern is still prepared to guarantee jobs and pay for conductors for the rest of our franchise to 2025 if we can reach agreement on how our colleagues deliver better customer service using those fantastic new facilities.”
Allan went on to say that the government had contacted the RMT directly and offered to guarantee employment for conductors past 2025 if the union brings an end to the long-running dispute.
Announcing that the strikes would continue, Cash said union members were “angry and frustrated” that the talks had not yielded any progress.
The RMT recently came to an agreement with Virgin West Coast to finally end the protracted safety discussions between the two groups before five days of planned strike action over the Christmas period could be realised.
It also entered into discussions with South Western Railway on the same day as Northern, but there has also been little progress in those talks and strikes still seem likely on the same three dates.
Cash said no agreement could be reached on a Northern deal because the operator wanted staff to “surrender to its demands.”
“RMT was prepared to enter into a serious discussion around operational models similar to agreements reached in Wales and Scotland but the door was slammed in our faces,” he remarked.
“As a result of the Arriva Rail North attitude the action goes ahead in defence of rail safety, access and security and the public will understand that we are fighting in the interests of rail passengers across the region.”
In December, the RMT claimed that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority had given its support to the union against Northern because of concerns over passenger safety.
The authority represents Leeds, Bradford, York, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield councils and is also a key part of Rail North, which oversees the Northern franchise along with the DfT.
Top image: Nick Ansell PA Wire
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