Wednesday 19 Mar 2008
YORK STRIKE WILL NOT AFFECT RAIL SERVICES OR SAFETY
- Region & Route:
Network Rail is assuring passengers that strike action, scheduled to take place in York this week, will not have any effect upon the safe and reliable running of rail services.
Dyan Crowther, Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We will not allow this unnecessary strike to cause disruption to passengers. Specialist electrical staff will be standing in for union members to ensure that passenger services run as normal. Safety will not be compromised – either in the arrangements for covering the strike or as part of the proposed reorganisation of the electrical control room.
“The only thing this action by the RMT will disrupt is the talks we are holding with our own people to find a safe and sensible working arrangement for the electrical control.”
The action is in response to a consultation by Network Rail about future staffing requirements. No decisions have been taken and Network Rail believes the strike to be entirely unnecessary.
Staff covering the posts are very experienced electrical specialists who have had additional training and are fully competent and able to carry out the task of electrical control room operator for the next five days.
The action is scheduled to run from 6.59pm on Wednesday 19 March to 6:59am on Monday 24 March.
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