Rail managers could join strike action across Britain

theguardian.com:

Managers and train drivers could join the strikes across the railway, potentially setting up a complete national shutdown by the time of the Commonwealth Games in July.

The TSSA union, whose members manage control rooms, signalling and power for train operators and Network Rail, has launched its first strike ballot, while the Aslef union has called the first regional walkouts by drivers.

The TSSA union is smaller than the RMT but its members provide the contingency staff that would allow some trains to run during the RMT strikes in late June. Coordinated action between both unions later in the summer would most likely prevent even the limited operations the Department for Transport hopes will run during the week of strikes this month.

Rail staff at Avanti West Coast, which operates intercity services between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, are to be balloted for a strike, the TSSA union has announced.

It said it was the first ballot “in an escalating dispute across the railway”.

The union’s general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: “We could be seeing a summer of discontent across our railways. Make no mistake, we are preparing for all options, including coordinated strike action.”

The move is likely to be the start of further ballots for strike action across all train operating companies and Network Rail.

Strikes by the TSSA could occur by late July, stopping intercity trains to Birmingham, the host city of the Commonwealth Games.

The Aslef union, which represents train drivers, has also announced limited strike dates at three companies, including a 24-hour walkout during the week of the RMT strikes on Greater Anglia. The strike, on Thursday 23 June, will stop all services in the region, including the Stansted