Posted 2nd December 2014 | 3 Comments

Rail union launches seasonal protests

THE RMT has unveiled plans for a series of protests against the plans for the next Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, which it is describing as a 'carve-up' and a 'kick in the teeth'.

A rolling programme of demonstrations starts today at Lancaster, to be followed by Grimsby and Carlisle on Saturday. Other demonstrations will follow at a number of towns and cities in the north, including Prreston, Wigan, Barnsley and Hull.

The union said there would be 'lively demonstrations' and post-card distribution as part of its campaign
 
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “While George Osborne revs up for yet another stream of rhetoric about a 'Northern Powerhouse' in his autumn statement, RMT activists and our supporters in the community will be out in force across the region marking “12 Days of Christmas” with a renewal of our fight against the rail franchise carve up.
 
"Our message is clear, the fight to stop the outrageous attack on jobs, safety and services under the Northern and TPE franchise plans continues right up to and beyond the festive season and the union is sending out the clearest possible signal to George Osborne, his Government and Rail North that they need to scrap this attack on transport operations.
 
“Let’s not forget that the core of the Government’s future plans for Northern and TPE is to axe jobs, restrict services, throw the guards off the trains and jack up fares while capacity to meet surging rail demand in the area is left to stagnate. That attack on the fare-paying public has already begun with the abolition of a wide range of off-peak fares and only an all-out and coordinated fight can stop the savage assault on rail in the North.”

The Department for Transport is planning to award replacement contracts to start in the spring of 2016. In a letter to transport committee chairman Louise Ellman, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "The Government has committed to a major programme of investment in the rail infrastructure in the north of England. We will be seeking to deliver these benefits through the TransPennine Express and Northern franchises, while also balancing the desire to see significant efficiency improvements to ensure the taxpayer benefits."

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • James Pritchard, Southampton

    Some fair points are made by both Bob and David here. The reality is, however, that the good work of a trade union is completely undermined by people like Mick Cash, their rhetoric and their actions. One of these days, there will be a genuine safety or welfare issue which will get ignored because Mr. Cash and his colleagues have cried wolf too many times.

  • Bob West, London

    Your rhetoric against the unions is ostensible powerful David Callam, but you forget the usefulness of the unions and the necessary purpose they serve. Safety is all too often something that unions do have to be the flagbearer for: Management and Government drives to cut costs above all else led us to the disaster of Railtrack and the needless deaths from the train crashes which were a direct result of that company's economy driven failings. Renationalisation was the only safe course available and was championed by the unions.
    As for your keenness to see all Railway staff work hard for their wage, I have no doubt that the majority do, and do so nowadays in more difficult conditions than ever due to staffing levels being cut to the bone! And let's not forget that a fair day's pay for Railway staff only came about due to Trade Union campaigning.

  • David Callam, Croydon

    Mr Cash would command more respect from the travelling public if he was less inclined to call strikes at the drop of a hat on mandates that were long out of date.
    Also a little honesty wouldn't go amiss: all this drivel about rail safety fools nobody. Mr Cash and his members continue to pine for the days when a weak railway management under the political thumb of the Labour Party was prepared to agree to every outrageous union demand.
    The people's republic of British Rail has gone, Mr Cash, and is unlikely to return whoever is elected next May.
    Meanwhile, every railway company should employ precisely the number of people it needs to run efficiently and every employee should expect to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.