Conductors from the RMT union have been on strike since Monday over a long-running dispute over proposals for driverless trains which are set to be implemented on August 21.
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TSSA will strike for fewer days over the same two weekends: its members voted for strike action on 14 and 15 August, and over two days in the bank holiday weekend, from 28 to 29 August.
The union said the dispute centres on Eurostar’s failure to honour an agreement from 2008 which sought to ensure that train managers could expect a good work/life balance in terms of unsocial hours and duty rosters.
Mick Cash, the general secretary of the RMT, told his members last night: “The National Executive Committee has had time to consider this matter and have acknowledged that some progress is being made”.
The RMT union is also now involved in strike action in southeast England, where rail workers on Monday began what is planned to be a five-day walkout on Southern Trains.
Industrial relations on the railways have worsened after workers on Virgin East Coast voted to strike in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and safety.
“We are aware of the plans for strike action and our focus has been seeking a joint resolution while planning to provide a good service for our customers”, said the company in a statement. The company notes that passengers who will be affected by the union’s plans will be notified beforehand. “Strike action has been suspended for Thursday and Friday”.
“This strike has inconvenienced people needlessly and I am glad to see the RMT sitting round the table”, he said.
“We are now taking our protest direct to the DfT (Department for Transport)”.
However, on Wednesday afternoon (August 10) after an offer from the RMT to suspend the action if Southern returned to talks without preconditions, conciliation service Acas, which has been mediating the talks, the ongoing five-day walkout stopped.
“The union should accept the generous offer being made to them by the train operator and get their members back to work”.
He called on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to take urgent action, adding: ” All he needs to do is pick up the phone to GTR and rail services can be restored in time for tomorrow’s rush hour.
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But it was halted as negotiations between RMT Union and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) began again.
