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Supervisors back national rail walkout
Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent12 Mar 2010
A second rail union has voted for strikes over Network Rail's plans to axe 1,500 maintenance jobs, it was revealed today.
The decision by NR supervisors in the Transport Salaried Staffs Association increases the risk of action crippling the national rail network at Easter.
The ballot involved 2,000 white-collar staff in workshops and depots across the country.
Thousands of the firm's maintenance workers in the Rail Maritime and Transport union yesterday voted for strike action in the same dispute over job cuts and working conditions.
No strike dates will be announced before next Friday, when the RMT will announce the result of a ballot among Network Rail signal staff.
TSSA leader Gerry Doherty, who attended a joint demonstration with RMT leader Bob Crow outside NR's London headquarters today, said: It is not too late for Network Rail to listen to its workforce and the rail regulator, who said last week that its proposed changes could endanger safety.
Talks between union leaders and Network Rail will be held next Thursday in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Reader views (4)
graham rodhouse your 100% correct, this isn't a call for an instant strike. there has been a ballot and the staff have voted with a majority for strike action! so by using the political principles that vote n our governments the railways union members have lawfully voiced their opinion. as in any political election the majority rules. if your political party loses you must still live with the majority descision and this has happened. its not a case of bids for power! its a case of the working man protecting his working rights. it is no more acceptable for a company to bulldose it's employees than it is for the public to suffer from an companies internal disputes. its a case of finding middle ground and avoiding such action.
phil jones when the labour government took over this country was in disaray thats why they had a landslide victory! again the majority ruled quite rightly. its about time this country addressed the disproportionate payments to company directors and their slashing cuts they are making to the little people within industry then maybe there wont be so much discontent amoungst the frontline workers. these companies directors and higher management are as responsible as any union.
- John D, truro england, 15/03/2010 15:43
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Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Holland wrote:
"I canīt help but feel that the real reason for these calls for industrial action are bids for power"
Really - And there I was thnking the unions {RMT and TSSA} were trying to save their members jobs.
Don't forget that there isn't the "All out" call anymore where a union can arrange for an instant strike. The members must be balloted first, using the same principles that elect our governments.
- Mark H, London England, 15/03/2010 11:32
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1970s deja vu. Striking everywhere. So many reminders of the mess that was the U.K. in the late 1970s under Labour. The I.M.F. had to be called in to stave off the state going bankrupt. When Labour took over in 1997, the U.K.'s finances were in good order. 13 years later, and everything has been squandered. Will the British vote for a fiscally-responsible replacement for Labour? I'm not holding my breath.
- Phil Jones, London EU, 15/03/2010 09:50
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BA, the Tube, now Network Rail. Why do have this feeling that Bob Crow and his chums are trying to bring the whole country to a grinding halt? I canīt help but feel that the real reason for these calls for industrial action are bids for power.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Holland, 12/03/2010 14:19
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