Network Rail: train passengers should prepare for bank holiday strike
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Version 0 of 1. Network Rail has urged train passengers to be prepared for a bank holiday strike by workers as talks aimed at resolving a pay row entered a third day. The track operator said it could not bank on unions calling off a planned 24-hour walkout from 5pm on Monday, which will cause travel difficulties if it goes ahead. The two sides were continuing to hold talks at the conciliation service Acas, and Network Rail said its negotiators would be available into the weekend if necessary to try to head off a strike. Its chief executive, Mark Carne, said: “We are continuing to talk with the unions and we believe there is a settlement to be had. I sincerely hope we can reach one and my team will be available all week, and into the weekend if necessary, to find a deal to prevent strike action. “From the very start of negotiations we made clear that we want to reward our staff for the incredible job they do, but that any pay rise needs to be linked to smarter, more effective ways of working. “We can’t bank on the unions calling off the strike, so we are now concluding our contingency plans so passengers can make decisions about their journeys. “If the strike goes ahead, it’s important that people check before travelling and are aware of the special measures put in place by train operators for people who have already booked tickets.” Train operators are working with Network Rail on contingency plans, which will be fine-tuned over the next few days. Full details of amended timetables and what services will run, when and where, are expected to be available from train operators by Saturday, with overviews and summaries available from Thursday. Members of the RMT and TSSA unions have rejected a four-year pay deal with a one-off bonus of £500 followed by three years of rises in line with RPI inflation. Network Rail said train services across the country will be severely affected if the strike went ahead. It is issuing a legal challenge to the TSSA and has claimed that there are numerous defects in the union’s ballot. No court hearing has yet taken place. No action is being taken against the RMT by Network Rail. In a separate development train drivers at Southern, one of the country’s busiest rail operators have voted to go on strike in a row over pay. Members of Aslef backed walkouts by 91% and other forms of industrial action by 95%. The turnout was 85.3%. Aslef said it is meeting the company on Thursday for talks to try to resolve the dispute. |