Inquest sparks rail strike threat
UKPA: 4 August 2010
Union leaders have raised the threat of industrial action in the railway industry unless urgent assurances are given on safety in the wake of the inquest into the Potters Bar train crash.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union wrote to Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond, the Office of Rail Regulation and the Health and Safety Executive demanding to know that action is being taken on rail safety following notice from the judge at the inquest that there was a continuing risk of fatalities eight years on from the disaster.
The union said it will not tolerate any delaying tactics and will consider a ballot for action of all railway workers, including Network Rail employees, contractors and train operating company staff, if safety assurances were not made.