PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AT FIRST TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS (16 June 2015)

That this House is dismayed at the decision of First Transpennine Express Railway Company to dismiss a train guard following an incident in which his train was being surfed by a youth at Grimsby Town station; notes that the guard had already aborted the train's dispatch once but after the guard completed the correct dispatch procedure by giving the driver the right-away signal, one of the gang tried to surf the train again, ignoring advice and warnings; further notes that, with 10 years' experience, the guard judged that it was safer to allow the youth to jump clear rather than hit the emergency stop button, which looked likely to throw the youth off-balance; further notes the youth also subsequently spat at the conductor; further notes that the conductor was honest and accepts that in a strict interpretation of the rules he should have hit the emergency-stop button, regardless of the risk to the irresponsible surfer; believes that in these circumstances dismissal of a member of rail staff who has a previously unblemished record is unprecedented and is concerned that a dispute now exists between the company and the RMT union; and calls for First Transpennine Express Railway Company to immediately review this case and meet the union to resolve this dispute.

Sponsored by:
Melanie Onn (Labour)