by René Lavanchy
RAIL SERVICES from Brighton to Liverpool look set to be stricken next week after the RMT union announced a series of co-ordinated strikes across three rail networks in disputes over job losses and Sunday working.
Up to 100 conductors at depots run by London Midland will walk out for 48 hours on Sunday after voting eight to one for strike action over management attempts to scrap a Sunday working opt-out.
They will be joined on Monday by up to 1,500 staff at First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia, who are protesting plans to cut ticket office hours at the former and redundancies of about 300 at the latter.
In London, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street and Euston stations will be affected, as well as Stansted Airport.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Both these franchises are seeking to slash jobs solely to maintain profits and dividends, and our members at both have voted decisively for action to defend those jobs.”
“Both these franchises are run by massive transport groups that have drained tens of millions from the railway industry, and which have boasted growing revenue”.
He condemned the companies for cutting their wage bill despite both paying out dividends of more than £50 million each to shareholders.
Mr Crow added that London Midland was “cutting off its nose to spite its face” because plenty of staff were prepared to work Sundays voluntarily.
All three rail firms have attacked the strikes as unnecessary. First Capital Connect and National Express said only a minority of RMT members balloted had voted for the strike, while London Midland denied it had been intransigent.
