“Ball in their court” says TSSA as strikes hold solid once again

TSSA has hailed striking rail members today as a further wave of industrial action has brought Britain’s railways to a standstill yet again. 

TSSA members in Avanti West Coast, c2c and TransPennine Express are taking 24 hours’ strike action today (Saturday 8 October) with action short of a strike also taking place in a further eight train operators.  

The dispute over job security, pay, and conditions shows little sign of ending unless there is a change in approach by government and employers, TSSA warns today. No official talks have taken place with train operators or umbrella group the Rail Delivery Group since July this year, despite repeated calls from unions for talks to resume, leading TSSA to say “the ball is very much in their court.” 

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “Our members have stood strong once again in this unprecedented run of strike action. I applaud all our members taking strike action today and also those taking action short of strike and send solidarity to our sisters and brothers in RMT and Aslef taking similar action this week. 

“Our action this past week has shown the industrial muscle of our union, as even when our members alone took part in a 24-hour strike action in Great Western Railway earlier this week, rail services on those lines were severely reduced on both Thursday and Friday. Our action short of strike has specifically focused on ensuring our members don’t cover the work of fellow trade unionists’ taking part in strikes.

“The government and employers need to change their tune and recognise that the only way to resolve this dispute is through negotiations. With a new Transport Secretary in place there is an opportunity for a new approach to break the deadlock. We urge Anne-Marie Trevelyan to give train operators the green light and mandate for talks to resume to find a resolution to these disputes which meets the aspirations of our members. The ball is very much in their court.” 

This latest industrial action follows widespread strike action across Network Rail and train operators last Saturday, 1 October, and strike action by TSSA members in CrossCountry and GWR this week which severely affected rail services. 

Strike action today:

• Avanti West Coast (Saturday 8 October all day)
• c2c (Saturday 8 October all day)
• TransPennine Express (Saturday 8 October all day)

Action short of strike (ASOS) today takes place in:   

• South Western Railway (ASOS but excluding overtime ban continuous from 1 October)
• South Eastern Railway (ASOS but excluding overtime ban continuous from 1 October)
• West Midlands Trains (ASOS including ban on voluntary contingency cover continuous from 1 October)
• TransPennine Express (ASOS including overtime ban and on call ban – full list of ASOS here – on Wednesday 5 October and from Thursday 6 October to Sunday 6 November 2022)
• Northern (ASOS comprising a ban on undertaking contingency duties arising from industrial action, continuous from 1 October)
• Cross Country (ASOS including overtime ban 5, 6, 7 and 8 October)
• East Midlands Railway (ASOS including overtime ban 5 and 8 October)
• LNER (ASOS excluding overtime ban on 5 October, ASOS including overtime ban 8 October)
• Great Western Railway (ASOS including a ban on undertaking contingency duties arising from industrial action and a ban on out of hours work communication on 5 October and from 12:00 on Friday 7 October until 23:59 on Sunday 11 December – full details of action here)