Network Rail employees issue strike threats
February 24, 2009
Britain’s second largest rail union is asking nearly 7,000 Network Rail employees to vote for industrial action. The Association of Transport Salaried Staffs has opened a ballot over proposed strike action. It has warned of ‘widespread disruption’ if it actually goes ahead.
The union is not happy at what it calls an attempt by Network Rail to launch a ‘two-tier’ pension scheme. The move is fallout of the Rail Maritime and Transport union’s decision to call strike ballots at rail companies – four of them. It announced plans to ballot almost 4,000 workers at National Express East Anglia, First Capital Connect, London Overground and South West Trains over industrial relations and job cuts.
The TSSA ballot closes on 23 March. It is open to thousands of staff, comprising supervisors and station mangers. The general secretary of the union, Gerry Doherty, stated: “Network Rail is effectively trying to introduce a two-tier pension scheme.” They are reportedly asking older staff with British Rail to pay more to make sure that their present final salary scheme will continue. “New recruits are banned from the scheme for five years. They are then being offered inferior benefits to long-serving staff. It is unfair; we will not accept it.”
A Network Rail spokesman reassured passengers disruption could be avoided
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