Train services are working to avoid disruption in Lincolnshire later this month, as a transport trade union calls a three-day rail shutdown across the country.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced three 24-hour long strikes would take place on Tuesday, June 21, Thursday, June 23 and Saturday, June 25. It will happen at Network Rail and 13 English train companies – including LNER, TransPennine, and East and West Midlands Railway.
Strike action has been called by the union after disputes over job security and pay, with the government asking the rail sector to reduce costs by around 10% due to a lull brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This request to save money can only result in widespread job cuts, so say the RMT, which has prompted the union to take action – though the timing could cause chaos in England.
Numerous large events are happening across the days in which strike action takes place, including Glastonbury Festival, Elton John and The Rolling Stones performing at Hyde Park, and UK Armed Forces Day.
More than 50,000 railway workers are expected to take part in the three day walkout, which is in line to be the biggest rail dispute since 1989.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously.
“We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1pc and rising.
“Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system.
“Rail companies are making at least £500m a year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This unfairness is fuelling our members anger and their determination to win a fair settlement.
“RMT is open to meaningful negotiations with rail bosses and ministers, but they will need to come up with new proposals to prevent months of disruption on our railways.”
LNER Azuma at Lincoln Central Station. | Stock image
In Lincolnshire, services are likely to be disrupted by this shutdown, though a full timetable of affected routes is yet to be revealed.
London North Eastern Railway, which is the main service to take passengers from Lincoln to the capital, will be running a reduced timetable on the three days – but has removed tickets for June 21, 23 and 25 until the official train times are confirmed.
The LNER website states the service will run “fewer trains and the trains that are running are likely to be busier”, as well as saying days between the strike action will also be busy.
Lincoln Train Station. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Both East Midlands and Northern Railway have said staff are working to put on as many services as possible during the strikes, but are not yet in a position to notify the public about changes to timetables.
A spokesperson for East Midlands Railway said: “The RMT union has confirmed its members will be taking strike action on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday, June 25 2022.
“This will have an impact on the level of services which East Midlands Railway is able to operate. EMR has extensive contingency plans in place and will run as many services as possible. Service information and timetables will be available very shortly.
“Please continue to check the EMR website, information in stations and social media for the latest advice and information.”
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern Railway, said: “We have been formally notified by the RMT union of their intention to call strike action. We are working hard to understand what this means for our network and will provide an update to our customers once known.”
The strike action is not being backed by everyone in the rail industry, as the Rail Delivery Group, a membership body for the industry, has urged RMT to call off the shutdown and continue discussions with the government instead.
Rail Delivery Group chairman Steve Montgomery, said: “No one wins in the event of a strike. Staff lose pay, the industry loses vital revenue making it harder to afford pay increases, and passengers and businesses are disrupted.
“While we will keep as many services running as possible, sadly if this action goes ahead, significant disruption will be inevitable. We therefore urge passengers to plan their journeys carefully and find alternative ways to travel during the strike period where possible.”
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A Lincolnshire man who lent his car to a major heroin dealer so he could source drugs for his then partner was given a suspended jail sentence.
Kevin Hislop, 43, was described as having a “limited role” in a larger conspiracy to supply heroin to the streets of Skegness.
Under cover police officers carried out test purchases of the Class A drug over several months in the Summer of 2017 in a special investigation codenamed “Operation Hazelbrook.”
Hislop admitted driving Paul Steven Wilkinson, 41, who was described as the “head of operation”, on two occasions and lending him his car for nine trips.
Lincoln Crown Court heard a total of 33 trips to ferry drugs were made from Leicester to the seaside town.
Six other people were also jailed for a total of over 21 years for their roles in the conspiracy.
Hislop, of West End, Spilsby, had been due to stand trial in July 2019 but his case was halted and then delayed because of the Covid pandemic.
When his case was re-listed following the pandemic Hislop admitted a charge of drugs conspiracy.
The court heard Hislop had admitted driving Wilkinson to Leicester on one occasion to collect some clothes when he was interviewed by police.
Almas Ben-Aribia, prosecuting, said that was in fact a lie, with Hislop making two trips with Wilkinson.
Miss Ben-Aribia added that the car in which the trips were made was registered in the name of Hislop’s then partner.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, said Hislop had only got involved because he was concerned for his then partner.
“It is is quite unusual, but this man’s motivation was not to get drugs for himself, but to source them for his partner,” Mr Cranmer-Brown explained.
“He was concerned that she was rattling.”
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Hislop was now in a new relationship and was a hard working man.
“His employers are aware of these proceedings, he works for an engineering company,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
Passing sentence Judge John Pini QC told Hislop he could avoid sending him straight to jail because of his limited role in the conspiracy and his lack of other convictions.
Judge Pini said: “The conspiracy for which I have to sentence you goes back some five years.”
Hislop was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and must also complete 180 hours of community punishment.
A widow whose husband died from sepsis after eating duck eggs purchased from a stall at a North Lincolnshire show is warning others of the dangers of the life-threatening condition.
Niptoon Tavakoli, 65, made three 999 calls in 85 minutes complaining of sickness and diarrhoea. During two of the calls he told call handlers “I need help very quick” and “I’m in trouble,” an ambulance investigation said.
When an ambulance crew arrived at his house in Lindholme, Doncaster, a paramedic believed he had gastroenteritis and so didn’t take him to hospital to prevent a sickness outbreak, the report found.
Niptoon had fallen ill after eating the six duck eggs he bought at a village show days earlier. He was displaying ‘amber’ signs of sepsis which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.
Three days later his wife Cheryl dialled 999. Niptoon was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with salmonella. However, his condition continued to deteriorate. He died in hospital two months later, aged 65, from multiple organ failure.
Following Niptoon’s death Cheryl, 63, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s illness and the care he received from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS).
An inquest jury concluded Niptoon died of natural causes.
YAS admitted liability for Niptoon’s death. A serious incident report by the Trust found “it would have been appropriate” to take Niptoon to hospital when the crew first visited him at home.
Niptoon Tavakoli sadly died at the age of 65.
Cheryl has now joined her legal team at Irwin Mitchell in calling for lessons to be learned following the death of Niptoon, who was also a stepfather to Andrew and Paul.
She said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the impact Niptoon’s death has had on our family. He was such a caring and fun person who loved spending time with his family and friends but also antique hunting and collecting coins.
“The last three years and trying to come to terms with what happened has taken a toll on all of us. Trying to grieve has been made all the harder because of having so many unanswered concerns.
“While nothing can bring him back we take some small comfort from at least being able to honour his memory by now establishing the answers Niptoon deserved.
“However, we feel we need to speak out to raise awareness of the dangers of not only salmonella but sepsis. People have probably heard of sepsis but I’m not sure everyone is fully aware of how dangerous it is.
“Niptoon had worked in the catering business for years so knew the importance of good hygiene, safety standards and knew how to cook duck eggs.
“That he contracted salmonella even with his knowledge shows that others could fall ill after eating them. We just want to try and make people aware as we wouldn’t want another family to go through what we have.”
Niptoon worked in the catering industry and retail management for many years. He bought six ducks eggs at Messingham Show in Lincolnshire on 2 June, 2019. He later cooked and ate four of them.
Five days later he complained of sickness and diarrhoea. The Ambulance Service report said that Niptoon initially dialled the NHS 111 helpline at around 12.25pm and a call handler recommended he phoned his GP surgery.
Niptoon made three 999 calls between 1.50pm and 3.15pm complaining of sickness and diarrhoea.
During the second he had a “massive headache” and told the call handler “I need help very quick,” the report said.
During the third call he reported he had food poisoning, a high temperature, and chest pains adding “I’m in trouble,” the Ambulance Service report added.
Niptoon’s case was upgraded to a category two call meaning paramedics should arrive within 40 minutes.
A note advising it was a possible sepsis incident was added for the ambulance crew to review.
A crew arrived just after 4pm and found Niptoon in bed. He told them “that he felt his organs were shutting down”, the report said.
Following tests, the crew left around 30 minutes later.
Cheryl called 999 on 10 June, 2019, after her husband complained he was aching and had no strength. He also had a mottled rash on his legs and arms.
The same crew who visited Niptoon three days earlier arrived and took him to hospital.
Niptoon was admitted to critical care but died on 12 August, 2019.
Doncaster Coroner’s Court was told Niptoon arrived at hospital at 10pm but did not receive antibiotics until 11.30am the following day.
Sepsis guidelines stated he should have commenced antibiotics within an hour of arrival. However, the court heard the delay would not have made a difference to the outcome.
Niptoon Tavakoli died from multi-organ failure on August 12, 2019. | Photo: BBC/Donna Martin
The Ambulance Service report also found that Niptoon was taken to hospital by ambulance on June 10 under normal road conditions.
However, given his condition and how he was by then showing red flag symptoms of sepsis, it would have been appropriate to have blue lighted him as an emergency, while pre-alerting the hospital.
An investigation by Public Health England found the source of Niptoon’s salmonella was from the duck eggs he bought. It found another person in the West Midlands had also fallen ill with the same strain of salmonella but had recovered.
Following the incident Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had arranged training for staff and had updated its policies and sepsis screening tools based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and UK Sepsis Trust advice.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family of Niptoon Tavakoli following his death in 2019.
“The Trust contributed to the Coroner’s inquest and fully accepts the findings of the jury at Doncaster Coroner’s Court. From the outset, we have acknowledged that the clinical care provided to Mr Tavakoli in June 2019 fell below the high standards we pride ourselves on.
“We are deeply sorry for this and extend our sincere condolences to Mrs Tavakoli and her family.”
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