Advertisement

Eurostar faces severe disruption at Christmas as staff vote to strike

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Eurostar faces severe disruption at Christmas as staff vote to strike
Passengers board a Eurostar train at St Pancras International station in London on December 17, 2021 (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

High-speed train operator Eurostar will face security staff walkouts that will "severely" disrupt busy Christmas services, their trade union said on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Eurostar, which links London with Paris and Brussels, is the latest firm hit by strikes as salaries fail to keep pace with rocketing inflation in a cost-of-living crisis.

The RMT rail union said in a statement that members working as Eurostar security voted overwhelmingly to strike on December 16th, 18th, 22nd and 23rd.

Advertisement

"The strike action will severely affect Eurostar services and travel plans for people over the December period," it added.

More than 100 staff had voted "emphatically" to reject a pay offer that was below inflation.

The RMT added that the security workers are employed by facilities contractor Mitie.

"Security staff are essential to the running of Eurostar and it is disgraceful they are not being paid a decent wage," said RMT general secretary Mick Lynch.

"I urge Mitie and Eurostar to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT as soon as possible."

Britain faces a grim winter of discontent this year as strikes multiply across public and private sectors as pay is eroded by surging consumer prices.

Ambulance workers on Wednesday joined nurses in voting to go on strike ahead of Christmas.

Numerous other staff, from lawyers to airport ground personnel, have also held strikes this year as Britain contends with its worst cost-of-living crisis in generations.

UK inflation accelerated in October to a 41-year peak at 11.1 percent on runaway energy and food bills.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also