Rail strike ballot faces challenge in the high court

Network Rail claimed today there were scores of "inaccuracies and deficiencies" in a strike ballot of signal workers which it will challenge in the high court tomorrow in an attempt to prevent a planned national rail strike. The company accused the Rail, Maritime and Transport union of breaking labour relations laws in the ballot, in which 54% backed strike action. The union has called for a four-day walkout from next Tuesday and said it will strongly contest the legal challenge, which had originally been set for the high court this afternoon. Network Rail claimed the irregularities affected almost 300 votes or potential votes in the signal workers' ballot. Robin Gisby, NR's director of operations and customer services, said: "We believe we have uncovered scores of inaccuracies and discrepancies in the RMT's signallers' ballot that, in our view, make it invalid. "We want to find a negotiated settlement to this dispute and talks continue but we have a responsibility to the entire country to head off this strike and let people enjoy their Easter break." Network Rail said the inaccuracies in the vote included: • Balloting 11 signal boxes that have been closed for years. • Recording more votes than employees in 67 locations. • Failing to ballot 26 workplaces involving 100 staff. • Balloting 12 locations where staff were ineligible to vote. Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said the legal challenge was a "scandalous attempt" to use anti-union laws to prevent the workers exercising their right to strike. "RMT is putting together an experienced legal team, including some of the most high-profile employment law experts in the country, and we will be mounting the most robust defence possible in the high court against this attack by Network Rail on our internal democracy," he said. Train operators are drawing up emergency timetables, and have warned that only one in five trains will run if the most serious industrial action by rail workers since 1994 goes ahead. The threat to services after Easter involves two separate disputes, one with signal staff, who plan industrial action in morning and evening rush hours, and the second with maintenance workers. The RMT's 12,000 Network Rail maintenance members voted by 77% in favour of strikes. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association is also planning industrial action over the company's plans to cut 1,500 maintenance jobs and change signallers' working practices.