Avanti West Coast train managers are poised to strike starting New Year’s Eve after rejecting what was deemed as a reasonable deal aimed at resolving disputes over working on their days off. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced the planned strike, which will affect services running on one of the UK's busiest rail routes, from London to key cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
Workers will stage walkouts on New Year's Eve, January 2, and every Sunday between January 12 and May 25. An RMT spokesperson noted, "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."
This announcement follows the suspension of previously scheduled strikes on December 22, 23, and 29, which were called off as union members considered Avanti’s new proposal. Disappointment echoed from Avanti representatives, who cited the potential for "significant disruption" to customers during the strike period.
According to the union, approximately 400 members voted, with 83% rejecting the revised deal. The offer included improved pay for rest day work but did not meet the workers' expectations, who face frequent requests to work on days off due to staffing shortages. Train managers are typically contracted to work 41 hours weekly, but the current demands often push them beyond regular hours, leading to frustrations over work-life balance.
Avanti West Coast operates key rail services across England, and their spokesperson commented, "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."
The latest developments come amid broader rail industry unrest, with various unions advocating for improved conditions and pay for their members. The disputes have been fueled not just by Avanti's policies but also reflect wider discontent within the railway sector post-pandemic.
RMT’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, emphasized the commitment of their members, reaffirming his stance on workers’ rights and appealing for management to engage meaningfully with their concerns. He stated, "This strike action is necessary to achieve equitable treatment of our members as they navigate issues with their working conditions."
Further complicate matters, the Department for Transport expressed disappointment at the strikes, insisting they would impact passengers hoping for smoother travel as the new year begins. A representative stated, "This is incredibly disappointing news for passengers who would have been hoping to leave strike action behind them as we move forward to 2024."
Looking forward, Avanti is currently reviewing how these strikes could impact services, with updates expected shortly to inform travelers of their options. They urged passengers to stay updated through their official channels for travel advice and ticketing information as service plans evolve.
Additional action is also anticipated on London's Elizabeth Line, with RMT members set to initiate their own strike on the same day as New Year’s Eve, citing similar grievances over working hours and conditions. The union’s actions signal heightened tensions within the transport workforce as they seek to negotiate fair treatment against long-standing issues pertaining to rest days and workload expectations.
Train operators across the country continue to face challenges as they implement changes now demanded by unions, aiming to secure long-term labor peace as travel resumes to pre-pandemic levels. Observers note these disputes are part of broader social movements pushing for fair treatment of workers amid pressures from rising living costs and demands for improving quality of service across public transport.
