Downtown in Business Boss, Frank McKenna condenou a decisão da União da RMT de realizar uma série de ataques ferroviários em Merseyside. Frank diz que a ação industrial é totalmente injustificada e está sendo motivada pela eleição para o cargo de secretário geral dos sindicatos, em vez de qualquer disputa genuína entre a equipe ferroviária do Liverpool e a Mersey Travel.
MR. McKenna disse:
“Houve preocupações levantadas, tanto da União quanto do público que viajam, de que a nova frota que está sendo introduzida nas rotas ferroviárias de Mersey no outono não exigiria guardas. As viagens foram aceitáveis para a força de trabalho do Liverpool, mas foram rejeitadas pelo Comitê Executivo Nacional do RMTS. Introduzir trens de última geração no próximo ano, substituindo a frota atual, com quarenta anos. Os trens serão de propriedade pública e localmente e o investimento nas novas ações está na região de 460 milhões de libras. Deveríamos estar comemorando essa tremenda iniciativa, mas, em vez disso, a política nacional interna de um sindicato está tirando o brilho de um projeto verdadeiramente inovador. acertar. Downtown in Business
“Those concerns have been acknowledged and resolved by the employer side at a not inconsiderable cost to the transport authorities.
“I understand that the proposed arrangements made by Mersey Travel were acceptable to the Liverpool workforce, but have been rebuffed by the RMTs National Executive Committee. They have moved the goalposts not because they are concerned about commuter safety, or even the future job security of their members. They are forcing a dispute, in my opinion, because the leadership is trying to outbid challengers in the current General Secretary ballot in the contest to show who is more militant
“Mersey Rail are set to introduce state-of-the-art trains next year, replacing the current fleet which is forty years old. The trains will be publicly and locally owned and the investment in the new stock is in the region of £460m. We should be celebrating this tremendous initiative, but instead the internal national politics of a Trade Union is taking the shine off a truly innovative project.
The Downtown boss concluded:
“Aside from the fact that the action is unjustified, we must also express concern that though this dispute is being actioned by London-based decision-makers it is Liverpool and the city’s citizens, business community and reputation that is taking a huge hit. It is a disgrace and I hope the union has the sense to call off these damaging strikes.”
