Strike threat looms at Eurostar over safety and working conditions
A strike is looming at Eurostar, the high-speed rail operator that links the UK with continental Europe. Britain’s RMT union has announced that it will consult staff on potential industrial action in the coming weeks amid growing unrest over safety and deteriorating working conditions.
The union claims that frontline staff are under increasing pressure due to unreliable trains and concerns about operational safety. “Eurostar is turning over billions, yet frontline workers are being left out in the cold, forced to deal with unsafe conditions and poor management decisions,” said RMT deputy general secretary Eddie Dempsey in a statement.
In response, Eurostar, which is partly owned by Belgian state rail operator SNCB, said that "the safety of our employees and passengers remains our top priority" and confirmed that talks with the RMT are ongoing. “No strike action has yet been confirmed,” the company said.
Brussels is a key hub in the Eurostar network, connecting five countries: Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. According to The Evening Standard, union sources have warned that any strike could cause "serious disruption" to international services between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
No strike dates have been set yet, but if the ballot passes, action could begin as early as late November or during the Christmas period. Under UK law, the union must give at least two weeks' notice before any strike takes place.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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