ACAS Statement on Northern and RMT Talks

11th March 2019

Please see the ACAS statement below which has been issued following talks yesterday between Northern and RMT, in the first step in the dispute resolution process set up by the ACAS Chair, Sir Brendan Barber: "Talks took place today at ACAS as the first step in the dispute resolution process set up by the ACAS Chair, Sir Brendan Barber.

"Under this process, the company, the union and any other appropriate stakeholders will seek to agree any appropriate changes to the operational mode, taking account of all safety and risk factors, in order to maximise benefits to customers and for the beneficial use of new technology. "A Joint Working Group, facilitated by ACAS, was set up to conduct discussions under these terms of reference. Today marked its first meeting and it will report back to the National Steering Group attended by Mick Cash and David Brown led by Sir Brendan on Monday 11th March. Further meeting dates for the Working Group have been agreed in the next two weeks and the expectation is that the work should be completed by the end of May or early June. "It is normal ACAS practice to ask the parties to respect the confidentiality of any discussions while they are taking place unless otherwise agreed. It is the intention though that at appropriate stages during the process, jointly agreed communications will be issued."