RMT members to strike at Network Rail stations
RMT: June 19 2008
MORE THAN 230 RMT members working at 19 major rail stations (list below) managed by Network Rail are to strike for 24 hours from noon next Thursday, June 26, in a dispute over harmonisation of pay and conditions arising from a reorganisation.
RMT members voted for strike action by a five-to-one margin after Network Rail failed to guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies or to commit to harmonisation of terms and conditions for all NR station staff, and breached bargaining procedures.
Station staff will not book on for shifts that begin between midday on June 26 and 11:59 on June 27. From 01:00 on June 26 RMT members will also refuse to train, supervise or familiarise non-station staff to station roles
The industrial action is being co-ordinated with sister union TSSA.
“The company is still seeking to impose rather than negotiate and our members have demonstrated quite clearly that they are not prepared to see their bargaining procedures by-passed under the threat of redundancy,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“There remains no reason why Network Rail cannot give the simple guarantee that there will be no compulsory job losses as a result of this exercise.
“We are happy to sit down with them and conclude national consultations, but the company has breached bargaining procedures by trying to impose reclassification at local level,” Bob Crow said.
ends
For further information contact Derek Kotz on 020 7529 8803 or 07939 595 092
Note to editors: The stations involved in the dispute are: Birmingham New Street, Canon Street, Charing Cross, Ebbsfleet, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Gatwick, Glasgow Central, Kings Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington, St Pancras, Stratford International, Victoria and Waterloo.