Train staff ready to strike after Christmas

It has been the year of the strike it seems as many businesses across the UK have struggled with staff going on strike. The year is not even up yet and we are hearing of yet more strikes on the horizon, but these will not be until January.

Most of the strike action has been centred around money and conditions in the workplace. Train drivers have walked this year, causing disruption to thousands of commuters. The postmen who bring bills and letters have also had a strike this year that appears to have cost them dear. Many companies found alternative ways of sending their goods and are now sticking by them as they will be more reliable. The biggest story of the year though has been the ongoing talks between British Airways and unions for the cabin crew. BA managed to avoid a crisis when they got an injunction against their staff from striking over the busy Christmas period.

The latest firm to have strike action threatened against them is Virgin Trains. Ticketing staff have announced this week through their union, Transport Salaried Staffs Association, they will walk out in January because of cutbacks that are being sanctioned within the company. The staff say it will lead to large queues at ticketing booths and an inconvenience to the public.

Union bosses have said that the strike will be in January for two reasons. Firstly so that the public will not be affected over the holidays and to give bosses at Virgin time to reopen talks about the proposed cuts in workforce.