London Midland will run a full seven-day service despite the announcement of further Sunday strike days by some conductor members of the RMT Union.
London Midland Director of Operations and Safety, Andy Thomas, said he was disappointed the RMT had decided to take further action but determined to run 100 per cent of Sunday services.
“We have run 100 per cent of our services on previous strike Sundays and this remains our intention during these periods of action. We will run the normal timetabled services on all of the strike days.”
“In this day and age passengers expect us to provide a seven-day service and that’s what we’ll continue to do."
The action, which has been scheduled for Sundays from May 3 to June 21, involves around 90 conductor members of the RMT Union, based at depots in Bletchley, Watford and Northampton.
The RMT members have already taken strike action on six previous days - March 13 and 16, April 5, 6, 14 and 19.
“It’s disappointing they’ve made this decision,” Mr Thomas said, “because they are attempting to inconvenience passengers over an historic dispute.
“In a time of recession and uncertainty it’s frustrating that the RMT Union is striking over an issue that pre-dates the existence of London Midland by years. We thought a breakthrough had been made, but sadly this isn’t the case. However, we remain willing to meet and attempt to resolve this issue.”
Mr Thomas said London Midland management staff had worked tremendously hard to step in and provide cover.
“We have managers doing a fantastic job on our trains and other staff doing a great job providing advice and assistance to passengers.”
Editor’s Notes:
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 Sunday issue dates back to contracts that were initially introduced in August 1999 which commits conductors to work a rostered Sunday, if required to do so. This has been in force for all new employees who joined Silverlink since 2001.
The rest day issue is about the calculation of time and one tenth for hours worked on a rest day. The company has offered to change the calculation and back date this to the start of the franchise (11 November 2007). The RMT wants to include service with the previous employer.
London Midland is committed to delivering services seven days a week, including services for those wishing to travel on Sundays. The RMT has alleged that members of staff have been ‘bullied’ over roster patterns and overtime working. London Midland rejects these allegations.
Overtime is voluntary and London Midland conductors can choose to decline working extra hours, so there is no truth in claims of imposed hours. Staff rosters are worked out with the co-operation of Trade Union representatives. All hours worked are monitored and controlled centrally by computer to prevent staff working excessive hours.
There are clear safety rules and procedures in place to ensure members of London Midland train crew do not work excessive hours and these include designated rest breaks within their working day, as well as minimum hours break between shifts.
London Midland policies and procedures are in line with rail industry standards and all health & safety requirements. We take safety very seriously and would never compromise the safe delivery of our services to passengers.
