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Merseyrail staff WILL go on strike next month after union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a walkout over new driver-only operated trains.

The strike will take place on Monday March 13, with staff being told not to book on for any shifts for the duration of that day.

The Rail and Maritime Transport union (RMT) - which represents the network’s 220 guards - confirmed that 81.8% of its members voted in favour of strike action, while 93.5% backed action short of a strike.

The union said its members will also refuse to work on any designated rest days from March 7 onwards.

And a difficult day for passengers could be made worse after the RMT confirmed that staff from Arriva Rail North - which runs the Northern franchise - will also work out on the same day because of a similar dispute over the prospect of driver operated trains.

Arriva staff voted by a similarly large margin, 83.3%, and will join their Merseyrail counterparts for the day of action.

The ballot was held after Merseyrail refused to guarantee what the union calls the “safety critical” roles of the 220 guards when its new £460m fleet of trains arrives in 2020.

This is because on the new trains, being built by Swiss firm Stadler, the doors currently operated by the guards will be controlled by the driver.

RMT General secretary Mick Cash said:“This ballot result sends out the clearest possible message to Merseyrail, Merseytravel and politicians across the area that RMT is prepared to stand up and fight for public safety and the guard guarantee. The company now has the best part of two weeks to sit down with us, address the core issues at the heart of this dispute and negotiate a settlement before the action commences.

“The union’s position on Driver Only Operation is perfectly clear. We will not agree to any introduction of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train. It is the failure of Merseyrail to give guarantees on those basic principles that has led to the current dispute and the campaign of industrial action.

(Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

“RMT asked Merseyrail to give the union assurances that any new trains will have a second safety critical crew member on board and that the guard will be retained on all services. We set out clear deadlines giving the company ample time to give those assurances but the company have flatly refused to consider a guarantee of a second safety critical person on the new trains”.

“This dispute, and the industrial action announced today, were entirely preventable if the company had listened and to the unions deep-seated safety concerns, had taken them seriously and had put passenger safety before profit. The blame for the industrial action, and the disruption it will cause, lies solely at the door of Merseyrail and those who are happy to put private profits before public safety.

“Merseyrail are also completely ignoring the clear wishes of their own passengers, who overwhelmingly oppose the idea of Driver Only Operated trains on their network. That pig-headed attitude has forced the union’s hand and the idea that we would compromise on the fundamental issue of rail safety is absurd. The union remains available for meaningful talks and we would expect Merseyrail to take up that offer as a matter of urgency.”

Reacting to the strike decision, a spokesman for Merseyrail said: "Following the announcement that RMT guard members have voted in favour of strike action, Merseyrail has made clear that we will work hard to provide the highest level of service possible under the challenging conditions of future strikes.

"We have also pledged to do everything we can to bring the dispute to a satisfactory and swift conclusion and are committed to continuing dialogue with the RMT.

"Industrial action relates to the new fleet of trains, coming into service during 2020, which will no longer require the role of guards due to the way the trains will beoperated.

"However, around sixty on board customer service positions will be created.

"Ensuring passengers feel safe and secure continues to be the number one priority, and these people will work on board the new trains, to assist and reassure passengers.

"As things stand, none of today’s guards will be forced to leave Merseyrail’s employment."

He added: "We have promised that any member of staff who is currently employed as a guard and wants to stay at Merseyrail, will be guaranteed permanent employment in an alternative position, on the same terms and conditions as now, subject to successful negotiation between Merseyrail and the relevant trade unions, once the new trains areintroduced."