After voting overwhelmingly for strike action, RMT supervisory and signalling members in Scotland will be taking strike action between 12 noon on Wednesday March 7 2007 and 12 noon on Friday March 9 2007.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow has written to HM Railways Inspectorate (HMRI) with particular concerns about unsafe plans at Edinburgh Waverley and Yorker IECC although similar practices may occur elsewhere.

"I am asking for checks to be made to ensure that management comply with competency requirements set out within the relevant rules in respect of those persons undertaking duties during strike action," he said.

The 48-hour strike action follows the failure by NR to honour a 35-hour week agreement, the abuse of rostering agreements and the carrying out of rule-book testing in signal boxes, despite a commitment not to.

"It is not too late for the management in Scotland to stop attempting to browbeat staff and to engage constructively with this union," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes for editors: Full letter to HRMI below:

6 March 2007

John Gillespie
ORR/HMRI
Lyme Vale Court
Lyme Drive
Newcastle Road
Trent Vale
Stoke on Trent
ST4 6NY

Dear Mr Gillsepie,

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY RMT MEMBERS

You may be aware that RMT signallers' members employed by Network Rail are currently scheduled to take industrial action in Scotland from noon on Wednesday 7 March to noon on Friday 9 March 2007.

I have been advised by my local activists that Network Rail are putting in place plans to ensure signal boxes are kept open. I understand that this involves staffing some signal boxes with staff who will be unfamiliar with the panels they will be expected to work, will not have suitable local knowledge and are likely to jeopardise safety on the rail network. My particular concerns are at Edinburgh Waverley and Yorker IECC although similar practices are likely to occur elsewhere.

As the regulator of railway safety and the enforcing authority of health and safety legislation, I trust that in such circumstances HMRI will be making additional checks on the standards of safety on those parts of the railway network covered by the industrial action, including the level of supervision that would normally be available as an active risk control measure.

In particular, that these checks will include management's compliance with the competency requirements set out within the relevant Railway Group Standards, Company Standards and the arrangements described in Network Rail's Railway Safety Case in respect of those persons undertaking duties solely for the period of industrial action.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow,
General Secretary