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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Eurostar staff to strike over pay | Eurostar staff to strike over pay |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A strike affecting cross-Channel trains is to go ahead on Friday and Saturday after negotiations between unions and Eurostar's management broke down. | A strike affecting cross-Channel trains is to go ahead on Friday and Saturday after negotiations between unions and Eurostar's management broke down. |
| About 70 drivers and 20 on-board staff have said they will walk out for 48 hours in a row about pay. | About 70 drivers and 20 on-board staff have said they will walk out for 48 hours in a row about pay. |
| The action is likely to affect services from London St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet to France and Belgium. | |
| Eurostar said it had made a "fair and reasonable" offer and was intending to operate "a normal service". | |
| "We are confident that we will cover the trains with our French and Belgian drivers," said a spokesman. | |
| 'Huge disappointment' | 'Huge disappointment' |
| Further strike action has been promised on 26 and 27 December unless the row is resolved before Christmas. | |
| The Aslef union confirmed it was proceeding with this week's walkout, despite discussions between the two sides on Wednesday. | The Aslef union confirmed it was proceeding with this week's walkout, despite discussions between the two sides on Wednesday. |
| The leader of a second union involved said he realised a strike would lead to "huge disappointment" among travellers planning Christmas shopping trips to Lille and Paris. | The leader of a second union involved said he realised a strike would lead to "huge disappointment" among travellers planning Christmas shopping trips to Lille and Paris. |
| "I wish to apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause," said Gerry Doherty of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association. | "I wish to apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause," said Gerry Doherty of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association. |
| "But their anger would be better directed at Eurostar who have been refusing for months to reach a sensible settlement with us." | "But their anger would be better directed at Eurostar who have been refusing for months to reach a sensible settlement with us." |