Network Rail Takes Strike Threat to the High Court
Helen YoungAccording to new reports, a High Court judge in London has just granted an injunction that will block a strike that would have crippled rail services across the country next week. This ruling was granted to Network Rail after signal workers threatened a walkout just after Easter weekend.
The judge on the case, Mrs Justice Sharp, made an interim order against the RMT union. This order came after a QC that was representing Network Rail told the judge that it was an unlawful strike action that would do great damage to the UK’s economy.
The general secretary of the RMT union, Bob Crow, said that this judgment is an attack on the whole trade union movement and twists the anti-union laws even further in favor of bosses. He said that they fight for safe working practices on Britain’s railways. The union will be meeting soon with a recommendation for a re-ballot.
The head of operations at Network Rail, Robin Gisby, said that this is a good news for the millions of people who count on Network Rail everyday. The dispute with the unions remain; however, they have a responsibility to their people to continue talking to the unions to find a settlement that works for everyone.
The problems between Network Rail and the RMT union are over plans to cut 1,500 maintenance jobs and change working practices to allow more work to be done in the evening and weekends. Bob Crow has insisted that he will not let the dispute rest and vowed to announce a further ballot of RMT union workers. He finished up by saying that round one is over, but now round two starts.
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