09.04.18
RMT backs disabled passengers protest in London
RMT has backed the campaign ‘Save Access at Brentford station’ which aims to keep guards on South Western Railway (SWR) trains.
The rally will take place at Brentford station on 18 April at 10am in protest of the threat of losing guaranteed guards on SWR services, which the union argues will make travelling for disabled passengers more difficult.
Following their protest, the campaigners plan to board a train at 11am and head to Waterloo to join up with a 12pm main demonstration at Waterloo station.
Sally O’Connor, one of the disabled campaigners, said: “I have been using Brentford station since it became fully accessible in 2009 when I first started using an electric wheelchair outdoors.
“I will not be able to use the station without being sure I can get on the train, so soon it will no longer be an option, which makes me very sad.”
Campaigners say that the removal of guaranteed train guards will deny them the same rights as everyone else – the right to turn up and get the train of their choice.
RMT’s general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “No one knows the reality of the impact of the removal of the guard guarantee better than organisations like the Save Access at Brentford station group and SWR should be prepared to send their top managers down to meet them at Brentford station to listen to their concerns.
“It is frankly scandalous that members of our communities are set to be denied the same rights as the rest of us – the right to turn up and go on our trains.”
(Top image c. Jonathan Brady, PA Wire)