WORKERS ON THE high-speed railway service Eurostar are set to go on strike for seven days over the course of this month, in a move that will spell travel chaos for holidaymakers.
The BBC reports that the seven days of planned industrial action are part of a dispute over workers’ work-life balance, according to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union – the British trade union representing rail workers.
Staff will stop working at 00.01 on 12 August until 23.59 on 15 August, and also for three days over the British Bank Holiday weekend from 27 August.
Eurostar is a popular railway service between London and France that crosses the Channel Tunnel.
It is used widely by British holidaymakers travelling to mainland Europe, and the industrial action on a Bank Holiday weekend is sure to cause maximum disruption.
The service is also used frequently by Irish holidaymakers travelling to France.
The strike comes on the back of further action by RMT members on the British Southern and Virgin Trains East Coast railway service.
The dispute is said to be over the unsocial work hours and rosters of over 80 train managers.
Commenting on the strike, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that rail workers were “sick and tired” of the company’s failure to honour agreements.
“Our members have every right to have a fair work-life balance that fulfils the operational needs of the company while guaranteeing quality time off for friends and family,” he said.
It’s now time for Eurostar to come to the negotiating table with a set of proposals that honours our agreements and guarantees our members a genuine work-life balance.
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