UNION bosses have confirmed a new strike dates in the fight to keep guard positions on a new fleet of Merseyrail trains.

Drivers and guards will walk out for 24 hours – from a minute past midnight until 11.59pm – on Saturday July 8, Monday July 10 and Sunday July 23.

The last day of scheduled strike action on Tuesday May 30 was cancelled as a mark of respect to the victims of the Manchester terror attack.

The union say that before the strike dates they would like further talks with Merseyrail to resolve the issue.

This dispute relates to a new fleet of driver-only trains that will replace Merseyrail’s current 40-year-old rolling stock in 2020 which the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union say will threaten the security of guards jobs on trains.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is disgraceful that Merseyrail continue to refuse all reasonable attempts by the union to settle this dispute.

“Merseyrail have repeatedly kicked all conciliatory approaches by RMT negotiators back in our faces and made it crystal clear that all that they are interested in is the union signing a surrender document which gives them a free hand to rip apart the safety culture on the railway.

“It is that cynical and hostile stance from Merseyrail which has left us with no option but to put on this further round of strike action.

“RMT recognises the severe impact that the action will have but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union on the critical issue of safe rail operation and we ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take this high-profile action to force the company back to the negotiating table.

“There is ample time between now and July 8 for genuine talks to take place and for a safe and sustainable deal that protects the future safety across Merseyrail services to be put in place.

“The company should take up that offer of further talks as a matter of urgency.

“Merseyrail are 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 ball is now firmly in Merseyrail’s court.”

Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail’s managing director, said: "Although we brought several new initiatives to the table in the last round of talks, the RMT is unprepared to work with us to find middle ground.

"As well as guaranteeing a job to all guards who wish to stay at Merseyrail under the same terms and conditions, once the new trains arrive in 2020, we also put on the negotiating table a member of customer service staff on every train after eight o’clock at night.

"The strike on Sunday July 23 is timed to cause maximum disruption to people attending the last day of the Open Golf at Royal Birkdale. 

"At a time of heightened fears of terrorism, it beggars belief that RMT are prepared to disrupt this event and make protection of the crowds more difficult for us and our colleagues in the police and security services.

"They are striking during the weekend July 8 where Liverpool is proudly hosting the British Style Collective for the first time– an event that’s bringing much excitement and profile to the Liverpool City Region.

"While we, as always, will do our best to minimise disruption, our passengers should not be made to suffer at the hands of the RMT, and the Liverpool City Region should not be caught in the cross-fire of a national dispute directed by unions in London."