Union sets decision deadline for driver only trains
The RMT Union has given Merseyrail a two week deadline over assurances they will withdraw plans for driver only operated trains
The RMT Union has given Merseyrail a two week deadline over assurances they will withdraw plans for driver only operated trains
The company announced plans for a new fleet of trains which have no guards - which will be in place from 2020
The RMT say they are worried about the future of jobs in the company as well as safety - but Merseyside say the new trains would be safer and there would be staff onboard
Now the Union say they could be in dispute with the company if their assurances aren't met by January the 26th
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“The union’s position on Driver Only Operation is perfectly clear. We will not agree to any extensions of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train.
“RMT has asked Merseyrail on numerous occasions for assurances that any new trains will have a second safety critical crew member on board and that the guard will be retained on all services.
“To date, the company has failed to provide the union with these assurances.
“If Scotrail, which is run by Abellio, the same franchisee that operates Merseyrail, can introduce new trains with guards, then so can Merseyrail.
“And if Stadler, which is building the Merseyrail trains, can build conventionally operated trains for the Greater Anglia franchise, which is also run by Abellio, then it can build them for Merseyrail.
A spokesperson for Merseyrail said
"Merseysrail is surprised and disappointed that the RMT has threatened a dispute with the company, when there have been no substantive face to face discussions between the two organisations on the question of DCO (driver controlled operations) since the democratically elected politicians of Liverpool city region authorised the purchase of new trains last month."
The Liverpool city region needs and deserves new trains, which will be modern, safe, faster and comfortable, with more capacity to support the economic growth of a modern city region.
The new trains will be safer than the ones they replace – and there will still be staff on board focusing on customer duties.
"The new trains are affordable, will be in public ownership, and Merseyrail will make no additional profit from them."
None of today’s permanent guards or guard managers will be forced to leave Merseyrail’s employment.