Railway strike looms
Railway strike looms
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Tuesday, 09, May 2006 10:22
Britain's first industry-wide industrial action since the general strike of 1926 could take place this summer after negotiations between Network Rail and railway staff collapsed earlier today.
Union members are to vote on whether or not they approve striking next week in the row over pensions.
Network Rail have argued that the existing pensions scheme offered to train operators, engineers and station staff is fair and that union demands are "unacceptably high", something the unions have wholeheartedly rejected.
"The employers have failed to give us the assurances we have been seeking to avert the pensions crisis facing us so we have today given notice that we will be balloting our members across the industry for strike action," said Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT).
Other unions participating in next week's ballot include Aslef, the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association.
With train staff digging their heels in to an unprecedented extent the prospect for travellers enjoying their summer holidays in June looks a gloomy one.
Today's announcement comes in the wake of Friday's announcement by unions contesting pay levels of budget airline easyJet's cabin crew that their members will be balloted over a possible strike at the peak of the holiday season.
Commentators have suggested that Britain's railway stations and airports could mirror scenes at UK airports last summer following strikes by union members representing catering firm Gate Gourmet in their spat with British Airways.