The text below is a statement circulated among RMT members in the Train Operating Companies for a change in direction and pace to win the dispute.
Our year-old industrial action strategy for the TOC dispute has not delivered an acceptable deal.
Recent comms from the union leadership have sought to talk up the gains we’ve made and suggest that there are now only two ways for the dispute to go: carry on as before or TOC by TOC negotiations. As expressed by an overwhelming majority of TOC reps at a meeting in January there is a third way; escalate the action. Multiple branches representing members in this dispute have called for escalation via strikes on Saturdays. These strikes can be part of an intensified programme of action that also includes more sustained strikes during the week, such as the three-day strike with which we began the dispute a year ago.
Whilst talks with the RDG are important they are not what is going to decide whether we get a good deal or not going forward; that will be down to the intensity of our strike action and the determination we prosecute it with. For those in favour of escalating the action but who are unsure what form it should take we think that it is better to try a positive action rather than nothing happening because of indecision.
We call on the leadership to announce a three-day strike, with targeted hardship payments timed to give the maximum support to members, followed by strikes on four consecutive Saturdays, followed by a five-day strike. These actions should be carried out in a three-month period. We want these actions to continue until the union leadership has a deal they can recommend we accept.
