This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8595658.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Legal action to stop rail strike | Legal action to stop rail strike |
(10 minutes later) | |
Network Rail is taking legal action in a bid to avert next week's planned strikes by signallers. | |
The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is planning a four-day strike from 6 April, which it says could hit 80% of services. | The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is planning a four-day strike from 6 April, which it says could hit 80% of services. |
The dispute centres on Network Rail plans to cut 1,500 jobs and increase evening and weekend maintenance work. | The dispute centres on Network Rail plans to cut 1,500 jobs and increase evening and weekend maintenance work. |
If the walkout goes ahead, it would be the first national rail strike since 1994. | If the walkout goes ahead, it would be the first national rail strike since 1994. |
TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers are set to walk out from 6 to 9 April, while RMT signal staff will strike from 0600-1000 and 1800-2200 on those days. | TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers are set to walk out from 6 to 9 April, while RMT signal staff will strike from 0600-1000 and 1800-2200 on those days. |
Easter strike fears | |
Network Rail has said it hopes to achieve the vast majority of the 1,500 job losses through voluntary redundancy. | Network Rail has said it hopes to achieve the vast majority of the 1,500 job losses through voluntary redundancy. |
Unions say the plans would adversely affect railway safety - a claim disputed by Network Rail. | |
There were fears the strike would be called over Easter, but the unions said they deliberately avoided this in order not to disrupt the public over the bank holiday. | |
However, the start of the strike coincides with the day on which Prime Minister Gordon Brown is widely expected to announce the date of the general election. |