Sacha Lord has called a train worker’s strike set for New Year’s Eve a ‘direct attack’ on bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs. Last night, it was announced that workers on Avanti West Coast will begin strike action on December 31 as part of a dispute over pay. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members working as train managers would also strike on January 2 as well as on Sundays from January 12 to May 25.
The strike is being held after workers rejected a deal revolving around rest day working, which includes voluntary overtime covering staff absences. RMT said hundreds of its members are expected to take part in the action. Following the news, Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, described the move as a ‘kick in the teeth’ for the hospitality industry. Posting on social media, Lord said it had been an ‘extremely difficult year’ for bars and restaurants who had been hoping to recoup some of their losses with end-of-year parties. He also suggested the move would result in a number of hotel cancellations. He wrote on X: “I'm all for improved pay and workers rights...however... @AvantiWestCoast striking on NYE is a direct attack on Hospitality, the busiest night of the year. “It will result in a raft of cancellations, especially hotels and restaurants. A kick in the teeth at the end of an extremely difficult year.” Avanti West Coast says it remains ‘open to working with the RMT’ to resolve the dispute which'll see train managers going on strike. Last week, the RMT announced that its planned strikes for December 22, 23 and 29 had been suspended as they considered an offer that had come from Avanti. However, the union has now said that 83% of its 400 members involved voted against the dea