Rail union RMT announces more strikes – this time on the Eurostar
Rail union RMT has announced more industrial action, with Eurostar workers set to strike over seven days this month, including the Bank Holiday weekend – over their work/life balance.
RMT said this morning that Eurostar train managers would strike for four days from 12.01am on Friday 12 August until 11.59pm on Monday 15 August, with a further three days of action planned from 12.01am on Saturday 27 August until 11.59pm on Monday 29 August.
According to the union, the dispute centres on Eurostar’s "failure to honour an agreement from 2008 which sought to ensure that train managers could expect a good work-life balance in terms of unsocial hours and duty rosters".
"RMT members voted massively in favour of strike action on the basis that Eurostar had failed to honour their commitments and the fact that work-life balance was being repeatedly undermined," RMT said.
“Our train manager members at Eurostar have a heavy commitment to shift work and unsocial hours and are sick and tired of the company’s failure to honour agreements," said RMT general secretary Mick Cash.
"Our members have every right to have a fair work/life balance that fulfils the operational needs of the company while guaranteeing quality time off for friends and family.
"It’s now time for Eurostar to come to the negotiating table with a set of proposals that honours our agreements and guarantees our members a genuine work-life balance.”
Eurostar said it has made "some modifications" to its timetable to ensure that all passengers will be able to travel on the days of the strikes.
"Customers affected by any changes will be notified in advance with options for their journey," the rail service said.
This is the latest in a round of strike actions announced by RMT – commuters in London have been hit by a series of transport delays this week as Southern Rail workers downed tools, and the union revealed yesterday that Virgin train workers have voted to strike in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and safety.