RMT picket at Nottingham station - East Midlands Railway dispute - Sunday 13th June, photo G Freeman

RMT picket at Nottingham station – East Midlands Railway dispute – Sunday 13th June, photo G Freeman   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Clare Wilkins, Nottingham Socialist Party

RMT has announced a new 24-hour strike from midnight on 4 December on East Midlands Railway.

At the end of October, agreement seemed to have been reached in the long-running senior conductor’s disputes.

East Midlands Railway management had eventually engaged in discussions with RMT reps. Significant progress was made and, out of good faith, RMT agreed to suspend all industrial action.

Since these talks have taken place the company has refused to provide any offers in writing, despite weeks of negotiations, talks and workshops.

The dispute is over reduced pay and revised contracts for new starters and the associated safety concerns that flow from that

Train managers, in an even longer running dispute with East Midlands Railway, are in the process of balloting for action in their third ballot of their dispute. The senior conductors’ current ballot mandate lasts till February.