Thousands of railway workers in the UK will be balloted for strike action in escalating pay, conditions, and job security concerns that threaten transport havoc.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) has given notice to more than 6,000 Network Rail (NR) employees that they will be balloted, citing fears of a ‘summer of discontent.’
Workers will vote between June 20 and July 11 on whether or not to strike, and if they vote yes, strike action could begin as early as July 25.
The Rail, Maritime and Transportation (RMT) union at NR and 13 train operators are planning a three-day strike next week. These and other similar disagreements will wreak havoc on services on June 21, 23, and 25, as well as maybe the days in between.
In a separate dispute over jobs and pay, the RMT and Unite unions are striking on London Underground on June 21, the same day as the first national rail strike.
Previously, the TSSA announced strike ballots among its members at Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands, and West Midlands Trains.
Members of the drivers’ union Aslef are also going on strike at Hull Trains, Greater Anglia, and Croydon Tramlink later this month.
TSSA members at NR work on train services across the UK in operational, control, management, and safety important jobs.
For 2022, the union wants a guarantee of no mandatory layoffs, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a salary raise that matches the growing cost of living.
The TSSA stated that NR employees last received a wage raise between two and three years ago (compensation varies by grade) and that they also worked as key workers throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
Members will be asked to vote twice: once on strike action and again on non-strike action.
‘We might be witnessing a summer of dissatisfaction throughout our railroads if Network Rail doesn’t see sense and come to the table to address the concerns of their employees,’ TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said.
‘Network Rail employees are demanding fundamental fair treatment, such as not being fired, a reasonable wage raise in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and no racing to the bottom on terms and conditions.
‘Fat cat managers have so far turned down these quite reasonable requests, leaving us with no choice but to ballot for strike action, which is always a last resort.’
‘It’s outrageous that we’re being compelled to vote.’ Network Rail did not reply to our requests for wage negotiations, which were made before Christmas, until we filed a dispute in April, and they have dragged their feet at every step since then.
‘Enough is enough for our members. We’re ready for every scenario, even a coordinated strike.’
‘Now is not the time for the TSSA to go on the RMT’s’strike bandwagon,’ according to a Network Rail spokeswoman.
‘Positive pay discussions were in full gear, with a ‘no-strings’ 2.5 percent offer on the table, with the possibility of more if linked to productivity and efficiency gains, so this news is both premature and terribly disappointing.’