Peter Lazenby
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WORKERS at two rail profiteers are planning to join the fightback which is spreading across the industry, their union announced today.
Members of Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) at Southeastern and Great Western are set to ballot on strike action over pay, conditions and job security.
This follows the TSSA members at Network Rail, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER and C2C who are already voting on strike action.
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Our members at Southeastern are seeking basic fair treatment in the teeth of a crippling cost-of-living crisis.
“Rail workers were hailed as heroes in the pandemic and now they deserve a real-terms pay rise which keeps pace with inflation, rather than shouldering the burden of the Tories’ economic meltdown.”
Mr Cortes called on the government to “change course” and negotiate or instruct operators to “make us a reasonable offer.”
He said: “Our demands are simple — pay which reflects the times we live in, a deal which delivers job security, and no race to the bottom on terms and conditions.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The facts are clear: The median pay of rail workers is £44,000, which is around 70 per cent above the national average.
“Railway workers have seen above average salary increases over the last decade.”
Action could start at Southeastern from July 25 and at Great Western from July 26.
Members of rail union RMT will begin nationwide strikes on June 21, 23 and 25 and those on London Underground will also strike on June 21.
