Strike threat leads to safety improvements

The threat of strike action has forced a train operator to introduce measures that will improve safety for workers and passengers.

More than 750 platform staff and guards, members of the RMT rail union at newly re-privatised South Eastern Trains, voted for action after the company threatened to cut staff and withdraw safety measures.

This prompted the company to revert to the previous platform-staff rosters and staffing levels, to place two security staff at key stations until the last train, and to base an additional team of ticket collectors in the region.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “We hope the company will now accept that cutting front-line, safety-critical staff is counter-productive.”