Stagecoach workers back East Coast strike action

Stagecoach rail franchise Virgin Trains East Coast was presented with the prospect of a strike on Tuesday, after rail workers have voted to walk out in a dispute over job cuts, working conditions and safety.

The FTSE 250 transport company owns 90% of the franchise, with the privately-held Virgin Group holding the remaining 10% as well as the brand’s intellectual property.

Five in six workers who voted in the Rail and Maritime Transport Union ballot supported strike action, with the union now saying it is considering the next moves.

The franchise operates trains between London King’s Cross and Scotland, via the East Coast Main Line.

It claims it will run a full timetable during any RMT strike action.

The company and the union disagree over staffing changes, which Virgin Trains says will not result in any compulsory job losses, nor would it put passenger safety at risk.

“With our guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies, no impact on safety and a full timetable in place during any action, we urge the RMT not to call a strike which will cost its members pay for no reason, and to rejoin us around the negotiating table,” said Virgin Trains East Coast managing director David Horne.