Threat of Easter chaos as rail staff back strike

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 21:35

RAIL services are set to be crippled over Easter as the industry moves a step closer to the first national stoppage in 16 years.

The vote by maintenance workers was the first in a series of ballot results to be announced by unions. By the end of next week, Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining tracks, is likely to be in dispute with four separate sets of workers.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) is expected to co-ordinate its action with the Transport and Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), which would wreak havoc on the network.

A walk-out would hit the holiday plans of thousands of passengers. It might also coincide with the start of a general election campaign and come against the backdrop of other industrial action, notably by 13,500 British Airways cabin crew.

RMT's maintenance workers voted to walk out in protest against plans by Network Rail to cut 1,500 jobs from a total of 18,000. Next week, RMT will announce the result of a ballot by signallers. Should they walk out, the network is likely to grind to a halt for the first time since 1994.

Network Rail faces two further strike threats by TSSA members. Its maintenance supervisors are expected to back industrial action in protest against job cuts. Next week, staff responsible for supervising the supply of power to the electric tracks are also expected to back industrial action after rejecting an 0.8 per cent pay rise offer.

The unions say maintenance job cuts will put safety at risk, but this is disputed by Network Rail, which also believes nearly all the cuts can be achieve by voluntary redundancies and natural wastage.