Eurostar workers threaten to strike

Flights to France and Belgium could see a rise in demand prior to Christmas as the result of a strike by Eurostar managers.

The rail operator's staff belonging to the RMT and TSSA unions voted heavily in favour of a strike following the announcement of new working rosters.

RMT and TSSA claim that Eurostar breached an agreement by implementing new shift arrangements without prior negotiations with worker representatives.

Bob Crow, general secretary of RMT, said: "Our members have told the company very clearly that imposing unfair and unequal rosters is no way to reward staff who did all they could to help Eurostar get back to normal after the recent Channel Tunnel fire."

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty added: "Nobody wants to see services disrupted as Christmas approaches, but our members are telling us that they cannot accept unfair and imposed rosters that undermine their work-life balance."

A number of airlines that offer flights to the major Eurostar destinations of Paris and Brussels, such as Flybe and bmi, could see a rise in demand as a result of the industrial action.

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