Plans are being drawn up to keep passenger and freight trains running in the event of industrial action after unions warned of “potentially the biggest rail strike in modern history”.
The RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) union is balloting 40,000 members on the action, which network sources have said could create “serious challenges” in keeping supermarket shelves stocked. The vote, which closes on Tuesday, includes staff on Network Rail and 15 train operators, with the RMT protesting over pay, compulsory redundancies and safety.
The union has also announced it intends to ballot members in Scotland for strike action, following what it describes as a “derisory” 2.2% pay offer by ScotRail and proposed timetable changes it branded a “kick in the teeth” to workers. Another union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, warned of a “summer of discontent” with similar action unless pay disputes were resolved. Its general secretary Manuel Cortes said many members had not seen a wage increase for two years.
