RMT union members plan to take industrial action on 22, 23 and 29 December in an ongoing dispute. The workers overwhelmingly rejected the company’s “inadequate proposals” on rest day working arrangements.
In an e-referendum, 92.8% of the union’s members rejected management’s latest proposals on a turnout of 81%.
Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: “Avanti West Coast’s proposals have been decisively rejected by our train managers, sending a clear message to management that the current arrangements are unacceptable.
“Train managers are being treated unfairly compared to senior managers, who receive significant payments for covering these roles. Our members have had enough, and this strike action demonstrates their determination to win a fair deal.
“It’s time for Avanti to put forward serious proposals that reflect the vital contribution of our train managers to the railway. We remain ready to reach a negotiated settlement and we urge management to show they are serious about resolving this dispute.”
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Avanti said that on the strike dates, customers should expect timetables and operating hours to be “reduced significantly” and said that services that do run are expected to be busy. It advised customers to check before they travel.
Customers who have tickets for 22 and 23 December will be able to use them on alternative services between 16 December and 24 December, while those with tickets for 29 December will be able to use them on alternative services between 28 December and 3 January.
If you’d rather not travel, you can claim a full, fee-free refund from where you bought your ticket.
To minimise the number of people disrupted, Avanti has suspended ticket sales for services on the strike days. The reduced timetables for 22 and 23 December are expected to be available to book from 14 December. The train company plans to provide more information about the amended timetable for 29 December as soon as it is available.
It is the first industrial action announced by a rail network since London North Eastern Railway (LNER) announced and subsequently called off strikes in August.