Two more unions with members employed by Network Rail have announced they will join the RMT’s rail workers in calling strikes later this month, piling more pressure on Great Britain’s rail services.
About 2,500 members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), including controllers, will walk out on 18 and 20 August – the same days as RMT members – although those in managerial grades, who provide contingency staff to keep services running, will not be on strike.
Members of the Unite union who work as electrical control room operatives for Network Rail will also strike on the same days.
The TSSA had already called strikes on those dates at seven train operating companies, after ballots last month, but had earlier refrained from staging strikes at Network Rail.
However, the union shifted its position after saying it had failed to get clear assurances over job security and working practices.
The general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said the strike would have a huge impact. He said: “Our members are simply asking for basic fair treatment: not to be sacked from their jobs, a fair pay rise in the face of a cost of living crisis and no race to the bottom on terms and conditions.
“No one takes strike action lightly, but we have been left with little choice. Our general grades and controllers are a force to be reckoned with. Without them the rail network does not run, it is that simple.”
Network Rail sources said its contingency plans remained in place for now, meaning some trains were likely to run again during the strikes.
Unite said its members, who are responsible for managing and controlling the power supply to the rail network, had not received a pay increase for three years.
The Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said they had “played a crucial role in keeping the rail network functioning throughout the pandemic” and the pay offer they now had received was “a kick in the teeth”.
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s lead negotiator, said: “We are doing everything we can to avoid disruption for our passengers later this month, but it appears that our unions are coordinating their strike action to maximise impact on 18 and 20 August.
“We urge all our unions to work with us to agree a deal that is fair for their members – our employees – and affordable for taxpayers and passengers, and we think it’s only right that members have a say on the offers we’ve made.”
The cumulative strikes, alongside action by Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members at 14 train operators – and a 24-hour RMT strike on London Underground falling in between on 19 August – will spell three days of transport chaos. On previous strike dates about 20% of trains have run between 7am and 7pm.
Train drivers belonging to the union Aslef will also strike again for 24 hours on 13 August.
