Train union plans industrial action

From 12.01 on Saturday 20th July staff will not work any overtime or rest days. They will also refuse to carry out any duties outside the terms and conditions of their employment, a spokesman for the RMT union said.

The union said there are a number of unresolved issues with EMT, including a refusal to engage meaningly in talks over the Nottingham Engineering Blockade, not sticking to procedural agreements, and the company’s attitude to its workforce.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “The industrial relations climate on East Midlands has sunk to a new low with the company attempting to bulldoze through changes off the back of an engineering blockade which has been planned over the long term and is now being dressed up as a bogus emergency to try and justify ignoring procedures and ripping up working agreements.

“There is also a culture of bullying, harassment and victimisation that RMT will not allow to continue and which has escalated since the industrial action was announced. The union remains available for talks aimed at securing agreement but the company should be in no doubt as to the level of anger that their actions have generated amongst RMT members and the action starting this weekend is well and truly on.”

An East Midlands Trains spokesperson said: “This is a dispute entirely invented by the RMT. There is no substance to its claims. Two-thirds of the employees balloted also do not support the union’s planned action.

“Instead of deliberately targeting passengers, the RMT should be supporting the years of planning our staff and other organisations have put into preparing for the Nottingham re-signalling works. In any case, we are confident the union’s action will have no impact on our ability to deliver our planned timetable for our customers.”