Rail passengers are being warned of significant disruption to services over the Bank Holiday weekend because of a strike by conductors at a train company. While Post Office workers have launched a fresh strike in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at TransPennine Express walked out on Saturday and will strike again on Sunday in a long-running dispute over pay. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Crown Post Offices – the larger branches often sited on high streets – walked out on Saturday, union members in administration and supply chain networks will strike on Monday.
Rail dispute
TransPennine Express (TPE) urged people not to travel, saying it will be running an amended timetable on both days, with a very limited service available for those making essential journeys. People heading to events including Jubilee celebrations over the weekend were urged to seek alternative transport.
Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express said: “We are saddened that ongoing RMT strikes will mean we are unable to provide a full service for customers over such a special weekend, when celebrations will be taking place across the UK. With strike action planned for both Saturday and Sunday, coupled with major engineering work, our advice for customers is not to travel by train, and anyone heading to an event should seek alternative transport.
“Major engineering work by Network Rail will also mean changes for customers travelling across our North route, and we are calling on them to plan ahead and check their journeys.”
The union said the company was refusing conductors’ request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays, and had offered more money to drivers. General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The divide and rule tactics of TPE bosses are disgraceful and they need to understand that our members will not give in until they have a just settlement.
“Conductors, like drivers, should be well-rewarded for their work on TPE and if management behave reasonably, we can suspend the action this weekend. What our members are demanding would cost TPE less money than the loss of revenue resulting from strike action.
“We urge TPE bosses to think again and meaningfully engage with RMT.”
Post Office workers
It is the second bout of industrial action since the dispute flared and the union is not ruling out further strikes. The CWU said all 114 Crown Post Offices will close on Saturday, warning that the supply chain strike will mean there will be no cash collections or deliveries to post offices on Monday. The union said Post Office management are insisting on a pay freeze for 2021-22 and a “marginally improved” pay offer for 2022.
CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: “Our members do not want to be in this situation, but they won’t accept humiliation either. Our members worked hard to deliver an excellent annual profit for the company – affordability isn’t management’s problem here.
“Frankly, their degrading excuse for an offer has only hardened members, who won’t tolerate a collapse in their living standards. We thank the public for their understanding and support, and we urge the Post Office to get round the table and thrash out a real settlement that treats key worker heroes with the respect they deserve.”
Around 3,500 union members are involved in the dispute.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We want to assure our customers that the vast majority of our branches are unaffected by CWU strike action on Saturday. There are 114 branches, typically in city centres, that are directly managed by the Post Office.
“Over two thirds would normally only be open between 9am and 12.30pm on a Saturday. We apologise to any customers who are inconvenienced by a closure.”
The union said the pay offer was a wage freeze from April 2021 and a 2.5% increase and £500 lump sum from April this year.
