UK rail freight workers plan strike action
Workers at British rail freight firm EWS are to launch a campaign of industrial action after talks aimed at resolving a row over jobs and conditions broke down, it was announced today.
Around 1,300 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union will ban overtime and rest day working from next Tuesday and the union’s executive will meet soon to name strike dates.
The move follows the union’s Appeal Court victory against an injunction which halted two planned 48-hour strikes earlier this month.
“EWS tried and failed to sweep our members’ concerns under a legal carpet, and we hoped that they would now concentrate on sorting out the industrial relations mess they have created,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.
“We attended fresh talks this morning but the company remains completely intransigent and industrial relations remain in a state of complete breakdown.”
:: RMT members at Eurostar have voted by almost 10-1 to accept an improved pay and conditions offer.
