Skip to main content

Campaign of the week We think it is madness to want to take guards off trains. We should be doing the exact opposite of that

The RMT’s battle against driver-only operation (DOO) has gone on for several years and recent strike action has reaffirmed the essential role train guards play.

Northern regional organiser Craig Johnston tells the Star that the union’s social media strategy was key to winning over passengers.

He says a visible online presence was “absolutely essential to the guards campaign, both for communication between the union and its members and also in terms of getting our message across to the passengers.”

He adds it had been crucial to “understanding the passengers’ frustration and anger at the whole situation.

“We’ve tried to explain the reasons for the industrial action, we’ve made it clear where the fault lies and what the policy of the government and their operating companies is.”

Johnston acknowledges they had not defused “all hostility, there are some people who believe that workers should be walked over, but the majority, in my opinion, of passengers overwhelmingly support our campaign.

“We have had people who have been really inconvenienced expressing their frustration, but saying that they support our strike action.”

Of course, it helps when those on the other side are so clueless they shoot themselves in the foot.

Northern Rail scored a spectacular own goal this week when it blocked Twitter users who complained about the service.

But Johnston is realistic, warning that “it’s very difficult to get a win against a train-operating company that’s insulated against its own failures.”

He rails against “what can only be described as the franchise fiasco system,” which has allowed the same failings which have ruined the East Coast and Southern franchises to turn up with Northern. 

“Up north, there is a great anger about the fact that this cuts agenda is being pursued by Arriva, which runs the German state railways,” he adds.

“They cut and they undermine jobs up here, undermine rail safety and security … and they make profits to be reinvested in the German state railways — and this from a Tory government opposed to nationalisation!

“The Labour Party has a huge part to play,” especially given its “defined policy against DOO.”

But he maintains Labour could use its influence better, particularly where it had influence, for example on Merseyrail.

“We need those in the Labour Party to step up to the mark, defend rail safety, security and accessibility.”

Johnston points to an incident where two London Midland services “collided in the tunnels north of Watford following a derailment.”

As one of the drivers was trapped in the cab “the guard assisted with the evacuation.”

That incident emphasised the fact that “guards are trained in some 35-plus safety and operational competencies.

“They include how to evacuate trains, dealing with derailments, fires on trains, signalling systems and faults with overhead lines.

“They have to sit an exam every two years.”

The campaign boiled down to asking passengers: “If the guards are so critical, how can we possibly lose them?”

Johnston adds that with anti-social behaviour and sexual offences on the increase “we think it is madness to want to take guards off trains. We should be doing the exact opposite of that.”

He adds that the RMT is defending its members, but “also opposing fare rises at the same time. We are making the link [that] instead of cutting guards you should be cutting fares.

“Behind all of that, we are making the point the reason for many of these cuts is because we are engaged in the franchise fiasco.

“It is linked to the absolute failure of privatisation on the national railway.”

A show of the campaign’s success was the response union members had received from passengers.

“People walk up to us on the picket lines and they say that it shows renationalisation [is needed].”

He adds the argument “is constantly having to be made … I don’t see it as over, but certainly I think we are winning it.”

Got a campaign to share with us? Just go to morningstaronline.co.uk/page/campaign-week and fill in the online form. Each week our news desk will select a promising campaign and get in touch for further details.

 

 

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today