Both Eurostar and Virgin East Coast staff have voted for industrial action.
Virgin East Coast RMT members voted 84% in favour of strike action over what the union calls “a threat to jobs, working conditions and safety”. In addition nearly 90% voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike.
In a statement the RMT Union said that nearly 200 jobs were threatened by the proposals to remove the guard on every train.
General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Our members will not pay the price for a crisis cooked up in the Virgin/Stagecoach boardroom. We will now be considering the massive mandate for action delivered by our members in this ballot and the union remains available for serious talks .”
Meanwhile Eurostar RMT members will also strike, the RMT has confirmed.
“The strike action will take place over two weekends in August totalling 7 days of strikes as follows:
Four days of strike action from 0001 Hours on Friday 12th August 2016 until 2359 hours on Monday 15th August 2016. Three days of strike action from 0001 hours on Saturday 27th August 2016 until 2359 hours on Monday 29th August 2016.”
