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Thursday 20 May 2004

NETWORK RAIL CALLS RMT STRIKE BALLOT RESULT A ‘DAMAGING BLOW TO PASSENGERS AND THE COUNTRY’

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail today expressed its disappointment at the result of the RMT strike ballots.  Any potential strike would be deeply damaging to both passengers and the country as a whole.  The Company warned that any strike would put at risk the recent improvements in performance, which sees punctuality at a four year high. With less than half of Network Rail’s operations and maintenance employees in the RMT union, and only 38% of RMT members voting for strike action, this means that less than one-in-five of Network Rail’s operations and maintenance employees have supported this strike action. The RMT union carried out five separate ballots amongst different groups of Network Rail employees.  The Company awaits confirmation of the detailed breakdown of the five results. During the pay negotiations, Network Rail increased its offer twice and believed it had addressed the unions concerns over pensions: ·            Offered three inflation-busting pay rises ·            Ensured the company’s final salary pension scheme is fully protected for all existing employees ·            Opened a new company pension to new starters – the best defined contributions scheme in the industry, and one of the best in the market A public opinion survey published by Network Rail earlier this week has shown overwhelming public opposition to the strike. 85% said that RMT was putting its own interests before the needs of passengers whilst less than one-in-seven supported the strike. - more - RMT - 2 The Company will endeavour to run as many train services as possible during any strike, although plans cannot be finalised or released until closer to the day of any potential strike action in order to gauge the numbers of key staff available. John Armitt, Chief Executive said: “The result should come as no surprise as the RMT has failed to fully inform its members of the facts about the offers we have made.  This news is a damaging blow to passengers and the country as a whole.  This is a pointless and unnecessary dispute.  Despite our best efforts to communicate the true facts to our employees the RMT’s campaign of misinformation has proved successful. “Contingency planning is underway, in close co-operation with the train operators, to lessen the impact of a potential strike to rail passengers involving special timetables and re-training of employees with past signalling experience. “We will do all we can to avert strike action and I am relieved no strike dates have yet been set.  I sincerely hope that a deeply damaging strike, a strike that targets and penalises passengers, can yet be averted.  We have secured and guaranteed pension rights for present employees and created a new pension scheme for new employees that is the best in the industry.  We have done, and will continue to do all we can to avert a strike and lessen the impact of any action on rail passengers.”