AROUND 1,250 RMT members at Southeastern Trains are to strike for 48 hours on September 22 and 23 in two separate industrial disputes.

Nearly 500 guards and drivers returned a more than two-to-one majority for strike action after the company declared war on the safety role of the guard and signalled its intention to extend driver-only operation and do away with guards on new 395 Hitachi ‘Javelin’ trains.

And some 750 retail and engineering staff at the company voted by a similar margin for action after the company tabled a below-inflation 4.3 per cent pay offer – and threatened to reduce it to 4.1 per cent if it was rejected.

RMT members in all the grades involved will not book on for shifts commencing between 00:01 on Monday September 22 and 23:59 on Tuesday September 23.

“Southeastern’s plan to extend driver-only operation and remove guards on trains carrying up to 1,000 passengers should ring alarm bells among passengers as well as rail staff,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“SET’s plan is about cutting costs and maximising profits, but it amounts to an attack on safety standards and our members have made it clear that it is unacceptable.

“The company is attempting use the new Javelin trains as a Trojan horse to scrap guards across its franchise, and it is unbelieveable that they are attempting to do it on 12-car trains carrying up to 1,000 people through tunnels longer in total than the Channel tunnel.

“The company wants to replace guards with a new non-safety critical post without the training in on-board safety and train protection, route-knowledge and licence that guards must have, and passengers should be as angry about that as our members are.

“SET’s parent group has increased its profits by 23 per cent and given its shareholders a 16 per cent rise in dividends, but it has offered its retail and engineering staff what amounts to a pay cut.

“That is a case of one rule for the fat cats and another for the people who actually do the work, and our members have made it clear that they will not accept it,” Bob Crow said.

Notes to editors:

SET’s ‘final offer’ to engineering and retail staff was 4.3 per cent – but the company has said it will be reduced to 4.1 per cent if rejected
Total Govia group Operating Profit increased by 16.8% to £64.5m in the six months to the end of December 2007, compared with the same period in the year before.
Rail division Operating Profit increased by 22.7% or £5.8m to £31.4m, despite a reduction in total subsidy.
Total rail revenue up 14.2% to £76.7m
5.9% passenger growth at South Eastern in the six months to December 2007
10.9% increase in proposed dividend to shareholders
· Directors’ remuneration (from 2007 Annual Report)

The Chief Executive’s salary on appointment was increased from £340,000 to £450,000 with effect from 10th July 2006 and a further increase was awarded in April 2007 taking his salary to £470,250.
The Chief Executive was also entitled to cash bonuses of 96.4% of basic salary, £453,000 and a £17,000 car replacement bonus
Excluding pension provisions and Long –Term Incentive Plan share options, the Chief Executive received a package worth £964,000 in 2007.

For further information contact Derek Kotz on 01273 730 170 or 07939 595 092