Strike by train drivers may halt services

Two rail unions, ASLEF and the RMT, are carrying out a strike ballot of drivers with First TransPennine Express in a row over pay.

If they vote yes, drivers could be striking by the end of August or early September.

A strike ballot of other First TransPennine staff, including conductors and station workers, is also being prepared, says the RMT.

The action, which is likely to be co-ordinated, would be likely to cause severe disruption to services between Liverpool and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Newcastle and between Manchester and Hull, Sheffield and Cleethorpes.

Neither union has commented on the possible duration of any strike action.

The RMT union said its members will be asked to vote on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action in protest at a 2.2 per cent pay offer.

Train drivers with First TransPennine are understood to receive salaries in the region of £35,000.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “First Group is generating massive profits and dividends for its shareholders off the hard work of its staff and an offer of just over two per cent, while real costs of living on things like gas, electricity and housing are roaring ahead, is simply unacceptable.

“We will be balloting our driver members with immediate effect and will begin preparations to ballot all other staff grades.

“It is now down to the company to take this situation seriously and come up with a pay deal that protects the living standards of our members.”

Andy Warnock-Smith, a northern organiser with the RMT, said members were “pretty angry” with the pay offer.

He said the union was asking members to vote for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

He said that accepting the current pay offer would cause a “cut in living standards”.

A spokesman for ASLEF said the results of its own ballot would be known on August 15.

The vast majority of First TransPennine drivers are members of ASLEF.

A spokesman for the company said: “First TransPennine Express says it is very disappointed that the trade union has chosen to ask its members to vote on taking industrial action.

“The company says a ballot is quite unnecessary at this time. It remains willing to talk to the trade union and says that the 2.2 per cent pay offer is realistic in the current economic climate and in comparison with other sectors of the economy.

“First TransPennine Express says it remains hopeful that this dispute can be resolved through further discussion and urges the RMT to accept the company’s invitation to continue talking.”

“Average weekly earnings in the UK have risen by 2.1 per cent since 2010.

“The RMT represents around one in 10 of the drivers employed by First TransPennine Express.”