The RMT executive will now discuss the next steps in the dispute at a meeting next Friday – 19th March - in light of the massive mandate for action that has been delivered by the members and to consider the ballot result in sister rail union TSSA. RMT has issued a further call to Network Rail Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite today to re-open talks on the maintenance cuts plans.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT members were faced with a stark choice in this ballot. They could either sit back and wait for these cash-led maintenance cuts to lead to another major disaster on Britain’s railways or they could vote to take action to stop the attack on rail safety. They have overwhelmingly voted to take action.

“Nobody should be under any illusions about just how determined RMT members are to win this dispute and to stop this reckless gamble with rail safety. Nearly 150 MP’s have signed the Early Day Motion opposing Network Rail’s cuts plans and have urged the Government to intervene to call a halt to this jobs carnage on the tracks. We are reissuing that call today.

“RMT is in no doubt that the cuts programme drawn up by Network Rail would drag us back to the dark days of Railtrack and would make another Hatfield, Potters Bar of Grayrigg disaster an inevitability. That is what this dispute is all about and even the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has had to concede that the botched attempt to bulldoze through these cuts has raised serious safety concerns.”

“RMT remains available for talks with Network Rail and we would hope that in light of the overwhelming mandate for action delivered by our members today that the Chairman will respond to our request for meaningful discussions aimed at ensuring that the staffing levels required to deliver a safe rail system are maintained.”

RMT:

Circular No: IR/79/10
Our Ref: BR4/15/4
11 March 2010

Dear colleagues

REORGANISATION OF NETWORK RAIL MAINTENANCE

The ballot of you and your colleagues has concluded and the result is as follows:

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 7816
Number voting YES 6055
Number voting NO 1709
Spoilt papers 52

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 7816
Number voting YES 6955
Number voting NO 723
Spoilt papers 138

Your union’s Executive Committee will now discuss the next steps in the dispute at a meeting next Friday - 19th March - in light of the massive mandate for action that has been delivered by our members. I can also inform you that I have issued a further call to Network Rail Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite today to re-open talks on the maintenance cuts plans.
You and your colleagues were faced with a stark choice in this ballot. You could have either sat back and waited for these cash-led maintenance cuts to lead to another major disaster on Britain’s railways or voted to take action to stop the attack on rail safety. You and your colleagues have now overwhelmingly voted to take action.

RMT remains available for talks with Network Rail and we would hope that in light of the overwhelming mandate for action delivered by you and your colleagues today that Mr Haythornthwaite will respond to our request for meaningful discussions aimed at ensuring that the staffing levels required to deliver a safe rail system are maintained.

I would like to thank all members for delivering such a magnificent vote for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow
General Secretary