Virgin rail staff to vote on Christmas strike

WORKERS on Virgin trains are to vote on industrial action amid concerns that strikes could cause travel chaos over Christmas.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of action on the east coast line.

The move follows a vote in favour of strikes by RMT members on Virgin’s west coast route in a dispute over pay.

The RMT accused Virgin of trying to create a “two tier” workforce on the east coast by offering new employees no sick pay for the first 12 months of their employment and an inferior sick pay scheme after that, as well as imposing a rejected pay offer.

Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: “We will not stand by while Virgin East Coast attempt to impose a two tier workforce with different terms and conditions for our members.” Train managers and senior conductors on Arriva Crosscountry are also to stage a series of strikes in a dispute over rostering and Sunday working, including action over Christmas and the New Year.

A spokesman for Crosscountry said: “To call strikes before the new year is extraordinary and will significantly disrupt our customers’ journeys and place a heavy burden on our staff as we approach the Christmas holidays.”