A reduced rail service timetable is to be introduced across the West Midlands due to two days of planned industrial action. <\/p>\n
The walkouts set for Friday and Saturday affect West Midlands Railway’s (WMR) network, including Birmingham and Wolverhampton, plus Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire. <\/p>\n
The TSSA union said its members’ action was over rest day working payments, “giving members parity with other unions”.<\/p>\n
Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “We are working hard to reach a resolution to this dispute and urge TSSA to continue talks.”<\/p>\n
On Monday, TSSA said the strikes would have a “significant impact” on services. <\/p>\n
The union is calling for the same deal as other unions had secured relating to rest day working on a Saturday. <\/p>\n
The Department for Transport had “repeatedly failed” to fulfil their assurances that an improved agreement would be secured, it said. <\/p>\n
Union general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said it was a “perfectly reasonable demand”.<\/p>\n
She added: “As things stand we face an intolerable situation.” <\/p>\n
It is the second round of industrial action<\/a> taken by the union, whose members include roster clerks and duty train crew managers.<\/p>\n “Of course, as ever our union only takes strike action as a last resort, so we hope that our demands can be met in coming days to avoid any more disruption,” Eslamdoust said.<\/p>\n The operation of WMT transferred to public ownership in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n