Strike action threat to rail services
Updated on 08 April 2009
East Midlands Trains services could soon be grinding to a halt after RMT Union members voted in favour of strike action in a row over job cuts.
The firm recently announced plans to cut 160 jobs, but union bosses say the true number of redundancies will be higher.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Like other rail franchises, EMT is using the recession as a pretext to cut jobs when the profits are still flowing in and the dividends are still flowing out into the pockets of shareholders.
"We now know that the true number of jobs they want to cut is likely to be far higher than the 162 they have admitted to, and they are even trying to sidestep the requirement that they must give 90 days' notice of redundancies."
Meanwhile, a fourth strike by RMT conductors at three rail company depots will take place next week in a row over Sunday working.
Around 100 members at the London Midland depots in Bletchley, Northampton and Watford would take 24-hour industrial action next Tuesday.
"It is disappointing that, after three rock-solid strikes, London Midland has not recognised the depth of feeling of our members over the straightforward," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.
He went on: "However the company tries to sidestep this, the problem is quite simply that it wants to compel our members to work Sundays and up to 60 hours a week when they have the right not to."
The conductors have already held 24-hour strikes on March 13 and 16 and a 48-hour stoppage on Sunday and Monday of this week.
© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
