Avanti West Coast workers to strike over New Year after latest deal rejected

Avanti West Coast workers are to stage a five-month-long series of strikes beginning on New Year’s Eve. The aim is to disrupt travel between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

It comes after workers rejected the latest deal aimed at resolving a dispute over rest day working.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members working as train managers will strike on New Year’s Eve, 2 January and every Sunday between 12 January and 25 May.

An RMT spokesperson said: “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.”

The RMT said up to 400 of its members are involved in the dispute. They voted by 83 per cent against an improved deal on a turn-out of 82.9 per cent, meaning 69 per cent of all those eligible to vote are in favour of walking out.

Avanti West Coast said it was looking at how the strikes will impact services and will confirm its plans as soon as possible.

open image in gallery

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “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.”

It comes after strikes planned for 22, 23 and 29 December were suspended last week as a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members.

Key elements of the offer voted on include revised and enhanced rest day working payments, discussions on a new technology agreement, and the creation of a rest day working allocation agreement.

Train drivers employed by Avanti earn a flat ?600 for working on a day off, and train managers are keen to be paid a commensurate sum.

An update on Avanti West Coast’s website said: “To minimise the number of people disrupted, we’ve suspended ticket sales for these dates. We’ll share travel advice, refund information and ticket options as soon as these are finalised.”

It is likely that a skeleton service will operate from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow on strike days.

Also on New Year’s Eve, on London’s Elizabeth Line, RMT members working in the control room will stage a 24-hour strike on the main east-west route through the capital, beginning at 9pm on 31 December.

The RMT’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “Our members play a vital role in running the Elizabeth Line and their demands for fair treatment on working hours and leave remain unmet.

“The current offer falls short, and our members are determined to secure a fair deal.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “If this action goes ahead we expect the Elizabeth line to operate normally, but would ask customers to check before they travel.”