The General Secretary of TSSA, Gerry Doherty, has written to inform the RMT of impending strike action by TSSA members in the BTP First Contact Centre and Force Control Rooms scheduled for 18th and 19th April 2009. Needless to say RMT members will do all that we can, within the law, to support our brothers and sisters at TSSA.

He advises that the strike will have a significant impact on policing for the railway which will have obvious implications on safety for the travelling public and staff alike. Furthermore, he warns that the BTP intend to use Police Officers to cover the control function but that they have only a minimum of training and no Control Room experience.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW), Regulation 8(1) employers have a duty to establish procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to persons at work such procedures are sometimes known as Worksafe Procedures.

Should you, as an individual, feel that as part of your duties you are placing yourself in serious or imminent danger during the dispute by the BTP Control Room Call Handlers you should comply with your company’s policy as required by the MHSW.

Moreover, you should not take any duties that you are not trained to carry out, especially if doing so could compromise your absolute safety

Bob Crow RMT General Secretary