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Tuesday, 19 February, 2002, 11:30 GMT
Fresh strikes to hit rail services
The latest srtike threat could bring more rail misery
Counter and ticket staff at the moderate Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) in the north of England are to walk out over pay levels.
About 87% of TSSA members at Arriva Trains Northern - many of whom work selling tickets at stations - agreed the action in a 60% turn out. It will be the first time since 1972 the union has voted for strike action on the railways. The union is angry that its staff at Arriva are only paid £13,000 a year, while those doing similar jobs at train operators Midland Main Line and GNER get £16,200.
They also believe they should be offered a rise to match the 18% recently awarded to train drivers at Arriva. No annoucement will be made on strike dates until a ballot of station and retail staff is held by the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT). The two unions account for nearly all counter and station staff at Arriva Trains Northern, and would hope to dovetail any industrial action. 'Negotiations wanted' Steve Coe, negotiations officer at the TSSA, told BBC News Online: "We are looking for a substantial increase in pay for station staff. "We have been left behind in the pay stakes, both in terms of other staff within the company and in comparison to operators like Midland Main Line and GNER. "It is not acceptable to us that Arriva is prepared to give train drivers an 18% increase but leave other workers behind with regard to pay.
"We are willing to negotiate. It is not acceptable to us that Arriva is prepared to give train drivers an 18% increase but leave other workers behind with regard to pay. "The company says it wants to talk to us this week, but has yet to make any pay offer." The TSSA, which represents around 170 station staff, said its members had been offered a 3% pay rise. An Arriva spokesman told BBC News Online: "This is a matter for the TSSA and it would not be appropriate for Arriva to comment at this stage." The RMT is planning another conductors' 48 hour stoppage on 1 and 2 March.
A decision on the RMT station and retail staff ballot should be known by Tuesday evening. The RMT has already carried out two 48-hour stoppages which brought chaos to northern commuter rail services during peak hours.
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