Rail firm plans RMT legal action

Rail company East Midlands Trains has "jumped" on the "anti-trade union legislation" and threatened a union with a High Court injunction, the leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport union said today, after the firm said it would take legal action for "disrupting its services".

Bob Crow said: "The union have been summoned to attend court on Tuesday (July 30). This means that East Midlands Trains are attempting to stop the current industrial action by seeking an injunction from the High Court.

"RMT are determined to defend the union's position on this matter.

"Our demands are not unreasonable and we firmly believe that management should sit down and enter into meaningful negotiation with RMT, instead of hiding behind the anti-trade union laws in an attempt to prevent the union from taking industrial action".

A rail company is planning to take legal action against a transport union after it "misled" employees into taking "unlawful" strike action, a spokesman for the East Midlands Trains said.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were reported to have "disrupted services" leading to timetable changes and cancellations this weekend.

A spokesman for the rail firm responded:

A rail company is to take legal action against a trade union over a dispute which is disrupting its services.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at East Midlands Trains were banned overtime a week ago, leading to timetable changes and cancellations this weekend.

The union said there had been a breakdown in industrial relations over a number of issues, including the scheduling of work in Nottingham.