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13/03/2009
Disruption Warning Over Transport Walkout
London Midland rail services will be disrupted today as around 100 train conductors walk out in the first of two 24-hour strikes.
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out at midnight, arguing workers are being pressured into working on Sundays.
The union claimed the company was intimidating managers into covering the conductors' safety-critical work.
London Midland, which runs trains between London Euston and Birmingham, has rejected the claims it is bullying managers.
A statement on the London Midland website said: "We're sorry for any inconvenience this will cause you, although we will run as many trains as possible on both days, giving priority to the morning and evening peak timetable."
Union leaders have reported "solid support" for the strikes, which will see a further walkout next week.
The RMT's General Secretary Bob Crow accused the company of refusing to honour long-standing agreements that former Silverlink staff could opt out of working Sundays.
He also said the dispute had been running for eight years.
"Instead of negotiating sensibly the company seems hell-bent on confrontation and is even intimidating reluctant managers into covering the conductors' safety critical work," Mr Crow said.
"We believe that is reckless, because it takes three months to train conductors, who must have specialist route knowledge and keep abreast of developments in safety procedures, and these managers have received only a few days' hastily-arranged refresher course."
London Midland said: "The reason for the dispute is arrangements for Sunday working and calculation of rest-day payments.
"Both of these issues pre-date the start of London Midland's franchise.
"The company has offered to change the calculation and backdate this to the start of the franchise (11 November 2007)."
(JM/BMcC)
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out at midnight, arguing workers are being pressured into working on Sundays.
The union claimed the company was intimidating managers into covering the conductors' safety-critical work.
London Midland, which runs trains between London Euston and Birmingham, has rejected the claims it is bullying managers.
A statement on the London Midland website said: "We're sorry for any inconvenience this will cause you, although we will run as many trains as possible on both days, giving priority to the morning and evening peak timetable."
Union leaders have reported "solid support" for the strikes, which will see a further walkout next week.
The RMT's General Secretary Bob Crow accused the company of refusing to honour long-standing agreements that former Silverlink staff could opt out of working Sundays.
He also said the dispute had been running for eight years.
"Instead of negotiating sensibly the company seems hell-bent on confrontation and is even intimidating reluctant managers into covering the conductors' safety critical work," Mr Crow said.
"We believe that is reckless, because it takes three months to train conductors, who must have specialist route knowledge and keep abreast of developments in safety procedures, and these managers have received only a few days' hastily-arranged refresher course."
London Midland said: "The reason for the dispute is arrangements for Sunday working and calculation of rest-day payments.
"Both of these issues pre-date the start of London Midland's franchise.
"The company has offered to change the calculation and backdate this to the start of the franchise (11 November 2007)."
(JM/BMcC)
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