Rail strike threat over pay and jobs moves closer

THE threat of a national rail strike has moved closer after union activists gave the go-ahead for coordinated action if a dispute over pay and jobs is not resolved.

Delegates at the annual conference of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association also called on the Government to address the cost-of-living crisis.

The TSSA is demanding that rail industry employers award pay increases at least in line with RPI inflation.

The union is consulting its representatives about a possible national ballot for industrial action at Network Rail and train operating companies in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions, and job security.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are currently voting on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action over the same issues.

Delegates at the TSSA conference in Sheffield gave a clear mandate for industrial action if no progress is made over pay and job security, saying they support the executive committee in any actions it determines are appropriate.

They agreed a motion which read: “If this results in industrial action our union will seek to coordinate this with sister unions and other workers taking action to fight the Tories’ cost-of-living crisis.”

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes warned: “If there is even the threat of compulsory redundancies, we will be balloting for strike action and trains will come to a halt.

“Make no mistake, trains will be coming to a halt in this country very soon if our members’ interests are not protected going forward.”