Rail workers set to vote on strike action

Workers at rail operator GNER are to be balloted for strike action in a row over working hours, the RMT union has announced.

The RMT said that it had notified GNER of its intention to hold the ballot, following the failure of an attempt to secure a deal on a 35-hour working week.

The union said that a deal has been reached several years ago on the subject, and accused GNER of trying to tie the reduction to job cuts.

Guards, station staff, booking-office workers and some train drivers will take part in the ballot.

A strike would disrupt the services run by GNER, which operates trains on the East Coast main line from London to stations in Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "The company is simply refusing to talk to us in any meaningful way about what should be the straightforward implementation of an agreement for a 35-hour week on the basis of existing agreed staffing levels. Instead, they are cynically attempting to use the 35-hour week as a cover for the imposition of staff cuts throughout the company.

"The company has already imposed a blanket ban on filling posts, which has created staff shortages and left our members working in increasingly difficult and stressful circumstances.

"GNER Travel centres in Edinburgh and at King's Cross are both operating with 20 staff fewer than the agreed levels despite introduction of fast ticket machines, and at King's Cross there are several staff on long-term sick leave due to the resulting stress.

"It is the same story with on-train teams, where the recruitment ban is having a major negative effect on the remaining staff members, and the failure to replace chefs is fuelling fears that GNER is preparing to cut its prestige restaurant cars altogether."

The union also said that the financial problems of Sea Containers, the owners of GNER, was forcing the rail operator to "squeeze" the franchise for cash.

GNER said that it was "surprised and saddened" by the RMT's decision to ballot workers for strike action.

The RMT is due to meet with managers from GNER on December 6.

(KMcA/EF)