Members of the rail union TSSA walked out for a third time on 25 January as their dispute with Virgin Trains management continues. Ticket office staff took action from 5am, leafleting passengers arriving for their early morning trains. The public were happy to stop and chat to pickets and Socialist Party members, who explained that this strike is about maintaining a decent service for passengers as well as winning a fair deal for staff.
Management at Coventry station are now attempted to impose a new roster on workers in the ticket office – extending their working week from four to six days. As one picket told us this morning: “Virgin Trains claim to be committed to ‘family friendly’ working practices, yet they are forcing through these new shift patterns which will severely limited the time we can spend with our families!”.
A forth day of strike action will be taking place on 5 February if Virgin continue to refuse to negotiate with the TSSA.