Rail bosses prepare for Easter strike as unions await ballots

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:34

THE threat of a national rail strike over Easter came closer yesterday as Network Rail (NR) revealed it had drawn up contingency plans to deal with a walkout by thousands of workers.

Ballot results being announced on Thursday and Friday could spark the biggest outbreak of industrial action on the railways since the mid-1990s as rows over job cuts, changes to working practices and pay come to a head.

Robin Gisby, NR's director of operations, said he was not prepared to see the country "held to ransom" by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which is balloting thousands of its members for strikes.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow advised passengers not to make any rail travel arrangements over Easter.

The union is balloting 12,000 maintenance and signalling workers in protest at plans to cut 1,500 jobs and change working practices, with the result due tomorrow, followed by a separate strike vote among 5,000 signallers to be announced next week.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) is balloting 2,500 supervisors and other white collar staff for strikes, also over jobs and pay, with the result due on Friday.

Talks with the RMT and the TSSA were continuing despite the ballots, but NR said it was determined to press ahead with changes to working practices, some of which dated back to the 1950s.

Mr Gisby said he believed the company could keep trains running if maintenance workers take industrial action, with managers and supervisors being drafted in to cover for strikers, although speed restrictions could be put in place in the event of a week-long stoppage.

The company will face fines running into millions of pounds if it has to change its Easter engineering work schedule.