01.09.14
Network Rail managers set for weekend strike action over pay
More than 2,000 rail managers are to stage a three-week ban on weekend working from Friday 5 September in a row over a below-inflation pay offer.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) members have called for the action after they were offered a below-inflation pay offer, whilst the staff they manage got a rise in line with inflation, 3.1%.
TSSA stated that Network Rail offered managers in Bands 1-4 a rise of 2%. However, this was 1.1% lower than the figure awarded to workers in Bands 5-8.
The action, if taken, is expected to disrupt weekend travel, and TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said: “It is expected that this action will have a significant impact on weekend engineering work being carried out over the next three weeks.”
However, he warned that the action would be stepped up further unless Network Rail management agree to serious talks by September 22.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “While we understand the TSSA's position is to push for more money for their members, we have a responsibility to drive through savings, especially as it would be British taxpayers that would foot the bill for any big wage settlement.
“This action will have no impact on train services as the numbers involved represent just a small proportion of our management grades.”
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