By TransPennine conductors hold two-day strike this weekend
TransPennine Express conductors on major railway lines will take 48 hours of strike action in a row over pay and Sunday working this Saturday.
According to the RMT Union, TPE has “point-blank refused” TPE conductors’ request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays.
TPE, which runs services in northern England and Scotland, apologised for a “disastrous weekend” and urged people to avoid travel on its routes.
The RMT said there was a large discrepancy in pay levels for conductors and other train crews for doing the same responsibilities.
Members walked out in February and last month with further dates planned including 30 April and the Jubilee bank holiday in June.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “This escalation of our rock-solid strike action will bring TPE trains to a grinding halt and the bosses only have themselves to blame.
“What our members are demanding would cost TPE less money than the loss of revenue resulting from strike action.
“The public will be severely inconvenienced by this strike, and they should direct their wrath at TPE for not settling the dispute.
“RMT remains open to talks about properly rewarding our conductors for the crucial role they play in keeping the trains moving.”
Services affected will hit routes around Liverpool, Manchester, Lancaster, Carlisle, Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Edinburgh via Huddersfield, and Scotland via Preston.
Other rail service providers have agreed to carry TPE customers with tickets marked “AP TPE ONLY” or “TPE ONLY”, as well as flexible tickets on days of strike action.
(Image: RMT)
