Rail staff balloted for strike action

Jun 2 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

MEMBERS of the RMT union at Liverpool Lime Street are being balloted for industrial action.

It is part of a national dispute over harmonisation of pay and conditions arising from a reorganisation by Network Rail.

The ballot, which is co-ordinated with sister union TSSA, opened last week and will close on June 11.

The union accuses Network Rail (NR) of failing to guarantee there will be no compulsory redundancies, failure to commit to harmonisation of terms and conditions for all NR station staff, and a breach of bargaining procedures.

However, Network Rail has said it wants to put in place a new organisation structure for the stations to make them “more effective and more passenger focussed”.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Rather than negotiate the company is seeking to force through changes by by-passing bargaining procedures and under the threat of redundancy. “We remain ready for talks, but our members on NR stations are telling us that they have had enough of being treated with contempt.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Contingency plans are already in place and all essential roles can be covered during any potential strike, resulting in zero impact on passengers and train services.”