Today the strike ballot called by the RMT union at Freightliner closes.
Managers at Southampton’s main rail freight operator were balloted for strike action, and action short of a strike, in a dispute over what the RMT calls ‘fair’ pay and working conditions. According to the union, a strike would have a “massive” impact on services in Southampton.
Freightliner is Britain’s largest intermodal freight transport operator, and has an 80 per cent market share of container rail freight at Southampton. The operator takes more than 1,000 containers out of the docks every day.
The union alleges that the offer made to management grades compares unfavourably with the offers to other grades, and does not represent fair remuneration.