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Monday 6 Oct 2008

NETWORK RAIL BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED AS RMT PLOUGHS ON WITH RAIL STRIKE

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail is disappointed that talks aimed at averting a four-day strike by RMT signallers in Scotland have ended without agreement after the union demanded that attending missed safety assessments should be optional.

Rejecting all attempts to find a sensible solution to the dispute, the RMT’s representatives today refused to even give its 450 signallers the chance to consider Network Rail’s latest attempt to prevent a strike.

The union reps present at talks in Perth rejected Network Rail’s suggestion that signallers be given the chance to review a written pledge from the company clarifying its existing commitment to honouring rostering agreements.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director Scotland, said: ”Despite our best efforts to resolve this dispute during our talks with ACAS today and on Friday, we are bitterly disappointed to inform passengers and freight operators that the RMT still intends to take strike action this week.

“We have been unable to shift the union from its position – a position that puts safety at risk by demanding safety assessments be voluntary, not compulsory.

“We have prepared a contingency train service which aims to reduce the impact on passengers as far as possible. Details are available from train operators and National Rail Enquiries.”

Despite repeated requests over the last four months, the union has also so far failed to provide any valid examples to substantiate its claims that Network Rail has abused rostering principles.

Its other previously stated reason for a strike – that progression should be based on seniority – is a practice phased out some 15 years ago and under today's employment law, is most likely illegal.