Britan’s first “free travel” rail strike

27.03.09

Britain’s first ever “free travel” rail strike is set for May Day Bank Holiday, the country’s second largest rail union revealed today.

It means that thousands of passengers could enjoy free travel from Aberdeen to Penzance along the UK’s longest route managed by CrossCountry Trains.

The union is planning to ballot booking office staff at more than 100 stations in protest at a young rail manager being sacked for joining the union. A yes vote would close ticket offices from Cornwall to North Scotland and from Stanstead across to Cardiff but the trains would still run.

“We think it is scandulous that anybody should be sacked for joining a trade union in this day and age,” said union general secretary Gerry Doherty.

“Andy Cooper (MD) is acting like the worst sort of Victorian mill owner. It may have been common practice in the 19th century but there is no place in the 21st century for treating staff like serfs.”

Within 24 hours of downloading a TSSA application form at the firm’s Birmingham HQ, the young man was sacked without any written explanation despite having two more months of a six month probation period to run in his new job.

Setting a week long deadline for CrossCountry to climb down or face a strike ballot, the union leader said: “We think it is highly appropriate that we should protest about trade union rights on May Day,”

“Rail strikes are usually very unpopular with the travelling public but I think this one will be very popular indeed, especially with my canny fellow Scotsmen! A second class single from Aberdeen to Penzance on May 4 would normally cost £258 and a first class single would be £362.”