Northern responds to latest RMT release - 27 February

Northern’s Deputy Managing Director, said: “We are delivering our modernisation plans for customers with almost £500m of new trains under construction, £8m spent so far on improving our stations, 70 refurbished trains in service, and much more to come by 2020. The introduction of Driver Controlled Operation (DCO) is part of our franchise agreement in order to modernise the way we operate and improve customer service.

“We are still prepared to guarantee jobs and current pay for our 1,300 conductors until the end of our franchise in 2025, and Government has offered to guarantee jobs beyond 2025, if RMT ends its dispute. Northern asked RMT to hold a fresh ballot of Northern conductors, especially as 248 conductors have started in the role since the dispute started, but this was rejected by RMT.

“During talks in the last 12 months RMT has refused to discuss the future on-board role unless we meet its pre-conditions, which means that any prospect of a solution through further talks is likely to prove impossible unless local RMT representatives are allowed to engage in meaningful discussions on the on-board role.”