Virgin Trains East Coast strike date set

WORKERS on Virgin Trains East Coast are to stage a 24-hour strike next month, the RMT union has announced.

It said the action, scheduled for October 3, was being taken over threatened job cuts, as well as disputes over working conditions and safety.

The announcement comes after talks aimed at resolving a series of long-running issues at the heart of the dispute failed.

As a result, staff have been instructed not to book on for any shifts that start between the hours of 0001 and 2359 hours on the day.

Virgin Trains East Coast, which said it would be running a full timetable during the strike, said it was making changes to customer-facing roles which would “see a single person take responsibility for the customer experience on our trains”.

The RMT union says the measures would lead to job cuts and impact on working conditions and safety measures which currently ensure a guard on every train.
It said nearly 200 jobs were threatened by the cuts and remaining staff would be expected to cover the extra work.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT will not sit back while nearly 200 members’ jobs are under threat and while conditions and safety are put at risk by a franchise which is clearly in financial trouble. We will also not tolerate the cavalier attitude to safety that is now on show as the company mobilises its scab army of managers.

“The union suspended an earlier programme of action when it looked like serious progress was being made in talks but that process has now failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion and we are back into industrial action as a result.

“We have been shocked at the way the company have led us up the garden path when we entered talks in good faith.”

Virgin Trains said it has assured the Union that there would be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the changes.

David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the East Coast, said: “We have worked hard to ensure there are comprehensive contingency plans in place and I want to reassure our customers that our timetable will be unaffected during these walk-outs, as well as during any subsequent strikes by the RMT.

“The changes we are making are part of the customer-centric revolution we have planned for the east coast. We’re already more than half-way through our complete refresh of our trains with all new interiors being rolled out, and in two years will have our brand-new Azuma trains coming into service. Alongside more modern trains, we want a modern customer service proposition – one that focuses firmly on the customer.

“With our guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies, no impact on safety and a full timetable in place during the walk-outs, this strike will cost RMT members pay for no reason, and we urge the union to re-join us around the negotiating table.”

Workers on Virgin Trains East Coast had planned three 24-hour strikes for August but the industrial action was suspended after the RMT and Virgin Trains agreed to continue negotiations.