Three days of strikes set for Northern line as talks break down

Arriva Rail North bosses and rail union RMT are at it again, with three days of strikes planned for July after talks stalled yet again.

RMT has confirmed that on Saturday 8 July, Sunday 9 July and Monday 10 July strike action will go ahead. Picket lines are planned at “key locations” across Northern routes.

The union said that Arriva Rail North “continues to resist all efforts to make progress” in the long-running dispute over driver-only operations.

It said Arriva had set “impossible” pre-conditions on future talks and will only meet to discuss the terms of the RMT’s surrender. Arriva Rail North said it is the union that refuses to sit down with them.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “The sheer intransigence of Arriva Rail North means that we have no option but to confirm a further round of strike action . The responsibility for the inevitable disruption lies wholly with the company.

“We are angry and frustrated that Arriva continue to face up to the facts and also continue to ignore a perfectly reasonable union proposal to invite the DfT to join us in three way talks aimed at finding a solution.

“Instead, they have chosen to up the ante by demanding that RMT attends talks solely to discuss the implementation of plans the company know we are wholly opposed to. That is a total disgrace.

“The union continues to remain available for meaningful discussions with the company in order to seek a satisfactory resolution to the on-going dispute.”

Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, said: “We are deeply disappointed and hugely frustrated that RMT is choosing to cause more pain for our colleagues and customers rather than get round the table to talk first.

“Only this week we wrote to RMT again, urging them to engage in meaningful modernisation talks with us. We have been clear that for all our conductors we are prepared to guarantee jobs and current pay, and continue with annual pay reviews, if we can reach agreement with RMT.

“The RMT’s dispute will be solved by talking, not by unnecessary strike action which impacts our customers, our employees, businesses and the economy of the North. Should the RMT strike action go ahead, we are committed to keeping our customers on the move as much as possible.”

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