The RMT has said it will begin balloting members for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pensions at East Midlands Trains.
ASLEF drivers are currently running strikes on East Midlands Trains services for the same reason, causing chaos for commuters.
The RMT said as a ‘result of management ignoring the requests of the RMT and other trade unions’, they have been forced to hold a ballot to strike.
East Midlands Trains said the RMT’s call for a ballot of its members was ‘extremely unhelpful’ and would do ‘nothing to resolve an unnecessary dispute over pensions’.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“While RMT members will receive a small financial gain from a reduction in contributions it is clear that the biggest winner will be the employer.
“Despite the RMT’s objections management have gone ahead regardless of these concerns for the future funding of the EMT Pension Scheme.
“Management are trying to con our members in the interests of a windfall profit for the shareholders. We are campaigning for a massive YES vote for action in this ballot.”
David Horne, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains, said:
“The RMT’s announcement that it will ballot its members is extremely unhelpful and will cause further uncertainty among our passengers, whose services are being disrupted for no reason.
“The fact is that the pension scheme is in good health and the new pension contributions are the recommendation of independent experts. It makes no sense for the RMT to ask their members to join ASLEF colleagues in striking for less pay and losing hundreds of pounds by walking out.”
East Midlands Trains are becoming a joke. It would seem that the inept management – inherited from the poorly managed Central Trains – are incapable of settling what have become a series of disputes with both ASLEF and RMT. Perhaps Brian Souter should now step in and attempt to sort things out, or else Stagecoach will be in danger of losing the franchise.