NETWORK RAIL DESPUTE-UPDATE-INDUSTIAL ACTION CALLED OFF....

NETWORK RAIL INDUSTRIAL ACTION CALLED OFF FOR BOTH SIGNALLING STAFF AND ENGINEERING MEMBERS

As you are no doubt aware Network Rail, instead of negotiating with the union, decided to seek an injunction to stop next week’s industrial action by signalling and other operations staff going ahead. I am sorry to say the High Court today granted that injunction.

The matter has been considered by an emergency meeting of you full Council of Executives and they have made the following decision:-

“That we note the Court injunction granted against us today in regard to the signal workers action due to start on 6th April 2010.

We instruct the General Secretary to inform our members and Network Rail that the action is called off.

In regard to the infrastructure ballot and the action due to take place on 6th April 2010, as a result of today’s injunction we note that this ballot may also be unsafe in legal terms. The General Secretary is, therefore, instructed to call off all industrial action and inform our members and Network Rail.

This Council of Executives is of the view that this is a highly political judgement based on a further development of over two decades of vicious anti-trade union laws in the U.K.

We are concerned that Network Rail may have provided the High Court with false information today in their efforts to convince the Court of their case

RMT has acted on the latest legal advice and acts to protect its members, their jobs and terms and conditions.

Accordingly, the General Secretary is instructed to re-ballot all of our Operations and Infrastructure members as soon as practically possible. The General Grades Committee is to be reconvened on 7th April 2010 to lay down a timetable on this re-ballot and also to receive the full legal judgement from today’s Court decision.

The General Secretary is to ensure that our members are advised of this decision. We are still in dispute and are determined to fight on in defence of jobs, terms and conditions and for a safe railway.

The General Secretary is to inform Network Rail that we remain available to negotiate a settlement to both disputes; all union member and officers to be informed.”

I will write to you again shortly.

Yours sincerely,


Bob Crow
General Secretary