Rail strike “very much on the cards” says union

The rail union TSSA has said there may be a national rail strike in 2022.

It warned this would happen in relation to any cut jobs, asking that there be an extension of an agreement for no compulsory redundancies.

TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said: “Rail workers deserve job certainty, and we will fight to protect that, including balloting for action where necessary. Our union has been crystal clear that any threat to use compulsory redundancies will be met with industrial action ballots. We wrote to rail bosses in November 2021 seeking assurances that the industry-wide no compulsory redundancy policy would continue to remain in place throughout 2022. Sadly, a new year has arrived and we are still waiting for the bosses to meet our union’s job security ask.”

The TSSA’s concern is that the number of people leaving the industry voluntarily would not be enough to meet any budget changes the UK Government want to put into place.

“Make no mistake, trains will be coming to a halt if any of our members is pushed out of our rail industry against their will,” Cortes said.

He added the union will be pushing for wage increases to match the rising costs of living, and that any industrial action would be coordinated with any other unions related to the rail industry.

Download article