Strikes
vote
++

The
RMT
has
welcomed
a
majority
vote
by
its
rail
industry
members
to
continue
strikes
for
up
to
another
six
months.
The
law
had
required
a
new
ballot
to
be
held,
and
the
union
said
the
average
turnout
among
the
staff
of
Network
Rail
and
14
operators
had
been
70.3
per
cent,
with
91.7
per
cent
saying
‘yes’.
General
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said
it
was
a
‘massive
endorsement’
of
the
union’s
plan
to
‘win
workplace
justice
through
negotiation
where
possible
and
industrial
action
if
necessary’.
He
continued:
‘This
union
is
determined
to
continue
with
this
campaign
until
the
employers
understand
that
they
need
to
respond
to
our
members’
aspirations
on
job
security,
pay
and
working
conditions.’
Rail
Delivery
Group
chair
Steve
Montgomery
said:
‘Passengers
will
be
dismayed
by
this
outcome.
We
recognise
the
strength
of
feeling
among
our
people,
and
call
on
the
RMT
leadership
to
continue
to
work
with
us
to
agree
the
vital
reforms
necessary
to
both
afford
a
fair
pay
deal,
and
secure
a
sustainable
future
for
the
railway
which
is
currently
taking
more
than
its
fair
share
from
the
taxpayer.
Further
counterproductive
strike
action
would
only
heap
more
misery
in
the
run
up
to
Christmas,
and
continue
to
undermine
the
viability
of
an
industry
we
all
want
to
see
thrive.’

Committee
election
++
MP
Iain
Stewart
has
been
elected
chair
of
the
House
of
Commons
Transport
Committee,
after
the
previous
holder
of
the
post
Huw
Merriman
had
become
a
transport
minister
and
as
a
member
of
the
government
was
no
longer
qualified
to
be
on
the
Committee.
The
other
candidates
were
Jack
Brereton,
Jackie
Doyle-Price,
Katherine
Fletcher,
Chris
Loder
and
Karl
McCartney.
Mr
Stewart,
who
represents
Milton
Keynes
South,
said:
‘I
have
a
real
passion
for,
and
experience
in,
transport
issues
and
I
am
very
much
looking
forward
to
working
with
colleagues
on
the
Committee
to
complete
the
existing
programme
of
work
and
establish
fresh
inquiries.’
Rail
Partners
chief
executive
Andy
Bagnall
said:
‘We
welcome
the
news
of
Iain
Stewart’s
appointment.
He
brings
a
wealth
of
experience
as
a
former
member
of
the
Committee
and
also
as
parliamentary
private
secretary,
and
we
wish
him
well
in
his
tenure.
The
Committee
plays
a
vital
scrutiny
role
as
the
railway
responds
to
the
challenges
it
faces.’