Strike action has resumed by West Coast train managers aimed at resolving a dispute over rest day working.
RMT union members will now walk out on New Year’s Eve and January 2, as well as every Sunday from January 12 to May 25.
The union said “sustained strike action” was now “the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement”.
Avanti West Coast, which operates trains between London and Scotland and across the West Midlands and north-west of England, said the strikes would cause “significant disruption” to customers.
Last week, the RMT called off planned strikes on December 22, 23 and 29 to consider Avanti’s new offer.
But the union said late Tuesday that 83 percent of the 400 members involved in the dispute voted against the deal.
It said the revised offer included higher payments for working on rest days and a more systematic allocation of shifts on rest days.
Train managers normally work 41 hours a week but staff shortages force them to work on holidays. can be said The RMT has argued that the current arrangements are “unacceptable”.
Avanti responded to the announcement of the latest strikes by saying he was “disappointed” by the vote against a “very reasonable” revised offer.
“This strike action will cause significant travel disruption for our customers on the West Coast Main Line for an extended period of time,” it said in a statement.
“We are prepared to work with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”
He said he was looking at how the strikes would affect services and would confirm his plans as soon as possible.
From mid-2022, rail travel has been affected by industrial action as the RMT and train drivers’ union Aslef demanded better pay and conditions for their members.
The previous Conservative government said changes in working methods were needed in return, but Labor struck a deal with the unions after winning the general election.