Strike dates by Virgin Trains East Coast rail workers agreed in row over jobs
RAIL union RMT has confirmed a programme of strike action for Virgin Trains East Coast rail workers.
It said an 84% strike vote was announced last week, and the strike will cover weekends towards the end of August 2016, including the Bank Holiday.
The union said that they had agreed to no further negotiations with Virgin Trains “until the company agreed to negotiate with us properly.”
RMT has said that around 200 jobs are under threat, and that working conditions under VETC were unacceptable.
It urged the rail company to stop “commandeering trains from our Guard members, which amounts to a campaign of bullying and intimidation.”
Workers will be on strike between:
3am on Friday 19 August 2016 and 2:59am on Saturday 20 August 2016.
3am on Friday 26 August 2016 and 2:59am on Saturday 27 August 2016.
3am on Monday 29 August 2016 and 2:59am on Tuesday 30 August 2016.
No overtime between 3:00 hours on Saturday 27 August 2016 and 02:59 hours on Monday 29 August 2016.
It is part of a spate of industrial action from RMT, including a walk-out by train managers on the Eurostar routes, as well as a weekday strike by workers on Southern rail last week.
David Horne, the managing director of Virgin Trains 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 walkouts, as well as during any subsequent strikes by the RMT.”
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “I condemn any industrial action that disrupts the travelling public. I want to see Network Rail and the unions back round the negotiating table, hammering out a deal.
“Rail passengers will not thank the unions for inflicting this unnecessary disruption.”
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. Our members are being subject to outrageous intimidation and bullying as their trains are commandeered as part of the scabbing process.”
