28 November 2008

Eurostar faces pre-Christmas industrial action threat

Eurostar will endeavour to ensure that services will operate normally in the run-up to Christmas in the face of possible industrial action.

The company was responding to a ballot of Eurostar UK train managers by the RMT and TSSA unions in a dispute over work rosters.

Eurostar said it had already met with and continues to talk to the unions to resolve the dispute.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe rosters and shift patterns were introduced as a result of the amended timetable since the incident in the Channel Tunnel in September and fully meet the conditions of contract for all Eurostar UK train managers,Ã¢â¬~ a statement said.

Eurostar UK train managers represent a proportion of the total complement, which includes staff from French and Belgian national railways.

Eurostar customer services director Marc Noaro said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœFollowing the Channel Tunnel incident and the introduction of the current amended timetable our passengers have experienced significant disruption and by far the majority have understood the situation.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe are extremely disappointed that our UK train managers have decided on this course of action and at this time, and we will make every effort to ensure our travellers face no further disruption in the busy period up to Christmas and the New Year.Ã¢â¬~

by Phil Davies