RMT union protestors to descend on Tory Party conference this weekend

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are set to descend on the Tory Party conference in Manchester over the weekend, where they will protest against plans to axe jobs and services across the North’s rail network.

RMT, the largest rail union in Britain, has said it believes the government’s Northern Powerhouse plans have become a ‘sick joke’ due to the thousands of skilled rail jobs at stake.

Jobs are threatened, according to RMT, by the proposals for new Northern and Transpennine Express rail franchises from April 1, which will be jointly managed by Rail North, a new body chaired by Manchester Council leader Sir Richard Leese and comprising representatives from the Department for Transport and 29 northern authorities.

The union has warned, in a letter to Rail North councillors, that the proposals could see train guards lose their jobs and negatively impact traveller safety.

RMT wrote: “[…] at the moment railway regulations guarantee that [passengers] in the North always have a guard / conductor on their train.

“In addition to the driver, passengers know there will always be a highly trained guard to protect the safe operation of the train and deal with emergencies, such as fire, derailments and driver incapacity.”

The letter continued: “The guard also provides general assurance to passengers, ticket and travel advice and revenue protection. Astonishingly the proposed rail franchise agreements mean passengers will no longer have this protection.”

RMT has also warned there is no guarantee staffing levels in ticket offices and stations will be retained when the new franchise comes in.

More than 12k train passengers have so far protested against the cuts, while surveys have found that three-quarters of rail customers will be concerned about safety if guards are no longer present on trains.

The general secretary of RMT, Mick Cash, commented: “According to Rail North’s own estimates passenger demand for the North’s railway will soar by 50% over the next 15 years. This will also mean a huge increase in revenues which should be used to take on more, much needed rail staff, not cut them.

“Rail North also needs to speak out against the region being last in the queue for decent rail services, new rolling stock and electrification. Good, modern communication links are essential for passengers, the economy of the North and our local communities.”

Mick continued: “Councillors should also be supporting the opening of new routes and opposing the government’s proposals to scrap the Transpennine Express services from Windermere, Barrow-in-Furness and Blackpool North.”

Mick went on to say that RMT will be joining ‘thousands’ of other protestors this Sunday (September 4) at the Conservative Party conference, to: “[…] send out the message that it is not only passenger safety and services that will be affected by the Rail North carve-up, so will our economy and communities.”

He concluded: “Cuts to rail jobs are always a false economy and make a nonsense of the government’s hot air about a Northern Powerhouse.”

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