By Strikes continue amid TransPennine Express pay dispute
Disruptiuon is set to continue today as TransPennine Express conductors stage strikes amid an ongoing dispute over pay.
Services across northern England, including from Grimsby and Cleethorpes, are set to be affected.
This comes after TransPennine Express Conductors requested and were denied an increase in pay for working on their days off and on Sundays throughout the pandemic.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “TPE conductors who kept the trains running throughout the pandemic have been left with no choice but to take strike action after being given a flat NO to their reasonable request to close the pay gap between themselves and other TransPennine workers by bosses who have mostly been at home throughout the Covid crisis.
“To add insult to injury Conductors on Northern Trains working alongside TPE Conductors have reached agreement for a small payment of 2p for a new method of checking tickets. Meanwhile, TPE Conductors have modestly asked for and been refused the same small payment for doing these checks.
“Our members refuse to be treated unfairly and will be continuing with industrial action until the pay discrimination is dealt with.”
Strike action is expected to take place on February 20, February 27 and March 6.
Commuters have been warned that TransPennine Express is expecting to see “a significant reduction in available services.”
An amended timetable is in place, but customers have been advised to seek alternative routes or to avoid travelling unless it is absolutely essential.
Ms O’Brien, TPE customer experience director, said: “We will continue to review our strike response timetables and will seek to provide additional services where possible.”
Updates to follow.
(Image: RMT)
