Strikes by thousands of UK rail workers looming

Thursday, 5th March 2009

Leaders of the TSSA union have called for a ballot to be held of 7,000 Network Rail employees, and are considering staging a series of 24-hour strikes over pension disputes. Around 4,000 train company staff are currently voting on an industrial action related to proposed job cuts.

Gerry Doherty, the TSSA general secretary, noted: “Network Rail is effectively trying to introduce a two-tier pension scheme. They are asking older, ex-BR staff to pay more to ensure their present final salary scheme continues, but new recruits are banned from the scheme for five years and then offered inferior benefits.”

According to comments from Network Rail, it has plans in place in case of an industrial action to ensure that its passengers would not be affected. The rail operator’s management added that it would continue talks with the TSSA in hopes of averting a strike.

RMT union leaders have called for a strike ballot over potential job losses that would affect South West Trains, First Capital Connect, National Express East Anglia and London Overground. Walk-outs are threatened beginning in late March.

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