A rail union has announced that Eurostar staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action following a ballot.
Staff backed walkouts by 51 votes to three after the ballot closed yesterday, following a dispute over lone working, and what the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) describes as ‘victimisation’ of one individual member of staff, who was charged with gross misconduct.
Eurostar, which stops at Kent stations Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International, charged the train manager in question for objecting to instructions to work a section of a route alone.
No date has been set for the strike as yet, but it is thought that it could affect those planning trips over the Easter holidays.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said last month: “The outrageous decision taken by Eurostar management to discipline our member in this manner is totally unacceptable.
“This is a situation that the union will not allow to go unchallenged.
“The risks of asking a member of staff to work alone are obvious to everyone and the fact that there is currently a heightened level of security alert on these international services only reinforces the union’s case.”
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/easter_services_could_be_affected_as_eurostar_staff_vote_to_strike_over_lone_working_dispute_1_4457989