(Reuters circulated the following article on June 29.)
LONDON — About 18,000 British railway workers will be asked to vote on whether to launch a nationwide rail strike over plans to privatize some government rail contracts, their union said on Tuesday.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it would call the strike ballot if state-backed track operator Network Rail went ahead with plans to subcontract responsibility for some rail assets to the private sector.
A nationwide strike by Network Rail staff would be Britain’s biggest rail strike since the RMT led a crippling campaign over four months in 1994.
The RMT members are signalers and maintenance staff rather than drivers, who are employed by the train companies that use Network Rail’s infrastructure.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said in a statement that plans to subcontract some signaling and maintenance contracts in northern England to private rail operator Merseyrail undermined staff working conditions and threatened safety.
The ballot plan was approved by union leaders at the RMT’s annual general meeting. No date has been set.
Network Rail said discussions on the possible transfer of the rail infrastructure were ongoing.
“We fully understand the concerns of our employees. Over the coming weeks we will continue to discuss their concerns with them,” a Network Rail spokesman said.
Network Rail took control of Britain’s rail tracks and stations in 2002, inheriting a network with a troubled history of accidents, escalating costs and delays.