Avanti West Coast employees to strike over New Year after newest deal rejected | EUROtoday

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Avanti West Coast employees are to stage a collection of strikes starting on New Year’s Eve.

It comes after employees rejected the most recent deal geared toward resolving a dispute over relaxation day working.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union stated its members working as practice managers will strike on New Year’s Eve, 2 January and Sundays between 12 January and 25 May.

An RMT spokesperson stated: “Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums and sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”

The RMT stated as much as 400 of its members are concerned within the dispute. They voted by 83 per cent in opposition to a advised deal.

An replace from Avanti West Coast stated it was how the strikes will affect providers and can verify its plans as quickly as doable.

Avanti operates practice routes throughout the nation, together with trains from London to Birmingham and providers to Glasgow. Its routes additionally embody Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle and Shrewsbury.

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An Avanti West Coast spokesperson stated: “This strike action will cause significant disruption to our customers making journeys on the West Coast Main Line over an extended period.

“We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable, revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers.

“We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”

It comes after strikes deliberate for 22, 23 and 29 December had been suspended final week as a advised settlement was put to a referendum of RMT members.

Key components of the supply voted on included, revised and enhanced relaxation day working funds, discussions on a brand new know-how settlement, and the creation of a relaxation day working allocation settlement.

Train drivers employed by Avanti earn a flat £600 for engaged on a time off, and practice managers are eager to win one thing comparable.

An replace on Avanti West Coast’s web site stated: “To minimise the number of people disrupted, we’ve suspended ticket sales for these dates. We’ll share travel advice, refund information and ticket options as soon as these are finalised.”

It is probably going {that a} skeleton service will function from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow on strike days.

Also on New Year’s Eve, London’s Elizabeth Line, RMT members working within the management room will stage a 24-hour strike on the primary east-west route via the capital, starting at 9pm on New Year’s Eve.

The RMT’s common secretary, Mick Lynch, stated: “Our members play a vital role in running the Elizabeth Line and their demands for fair treatment on working hours and leave remain unmet.

“The current offer falls short, and our members are determined to secure a fair deal.”

A TfL spokesperson stated: “If this action goes ahead we expect the Elizabeth line to operate normally, but would ask customers to check before they travel.”