'We will escalate these actions if we need to': Rail strikers join picket line at Wolverhampton station
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union braved the heavy winds and cold air as they began the first day of strike action on New Year's Eve for fairer terms relating to rest day working.
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The strike action by Avanti West Coast train managers looks for fairer conditions for train managers, who believe they are treated unfairly compared to senior mangers, who Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) bosses say receive "significant payments" for covering certain roles.
Heavy distruption to regular train travel was expected for affected lines, with rail services between London Euston, Birmingham, Manchester and Preston all seeing a reduction of service to only one train per hour.
Now, standing outside of Wolverhampton Railway Station, RMT Midlands Regional Organiser, John Watson, has outlined exactly what the disgruntled strikers want, and how far they are willing to go to have their demands met.
Mr Watson said: "Our members are giving up their days off to assist Avanti in running their train services due to insufficient staffing levels.
"They [Avanti] are using managers to operate trains when our members have days off, and those managers are being paid in far excess of what our members are getting paid.
