Eurostar rail services may be brought to a halt over the Easter weekend after staff threatened to strike over the “victimisation” of a union activist.
Passengers could have to make alternative arrangements after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union announced plans for industrial action. Almost 100 train managers based at St Pancras will be balloted for action.
The dispute centres on the treatment of a train manager who acts as an RMT representative. According to the union, she objected to a company instruction to manage a train along a section of the route alone. The union claims that lone working is unsafe and says she was within her rights to refuse.
The ballot will close on March 15, just over a week before the Easter weekend. By law, the union needs to give seven days’ notice of any action. Any walkout of train managers could lead to mass cancellations as they perform a vital safety function by leading evacuations in an emergency.
Eurostar said it was in talks with the RMT and hoped to find a solution soon.