Festive travel plans for thousands are set to be thrown into chaos after the RMT union announced a series of rail strikes targeting four Saturdays in December.
Strike Action Details and Dispute Causes
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union confirmed that its members employed by CrossCountry will walk out over long-standing disputes concerning pay, staffing shortages, and what they describe as "broken commitments" from the company. The industrial action was called after union officials rejected a pay proposal from CrossCountry, which they stated was "worse than what was already on the table."
Eddie Dempsey, the RMT General Secretary, explained the decision, saying: "Cross Country has not dealt with the core issues in this dispute. Our members are still facing unresolved staffing shortages, unfair pay outcomes and broken commitments." He added that the union had been left with no choice but to take strike action and urged the company to return with a serious offer.
Impact on Passengers and Network
CrossCountry, which operates from its base in Birmingham, is a vital artery for UK travel. The network serves more than 100 stations and connects seven of Britain's ten largest cities, including Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield. It facilitates journeys for a staggering 42 million passengers every weekday.
The company has yet to publish detailed contingency plans, but it is widely anticipated that the strikes will force widespread cancellations and the implementation of a significantly reduced timetable. This disruption is compounded by planned essential engineering works across the Network Rail system during the festive period, prompting urgent advice for all passengers to check their journey details well in advance of travel.
Company Response and Key Strike Dates
In response to the announcement, Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director at CrossCountry, expressed her disappointment. "We are disappointed for our customers that the RMT has announced further industrial action," she stated. "We've worked hard to make a fair and reasonable offer that addresses the key points raised in this dispute... Our priority remains reaching an agreement that avoids disruption for passengers in the busy Christmas period."
The CrossCountry industrial action will take place on the following Saturdays:
- Saturday, December 6
- Saturday, December 13
- Saturday, December 20
- Saturday, December 27
Passengers planning travel on these key pre-Christmas and post-Christmas weekends are advised to expect severe disruption and to seek alternative arrangements where possible.
