Eurostar workers vote to strike
LONDON, England -- Workers at Eurostar -- the high-speed passenger train linking London with Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel -- have voted to strike in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union voted by 82 to 37 in favor of walkouts Tuesday.
The union will announce strike dates later this week, but warned of disruption over the August bank holiday weekend.
Eurostar said services would not be affected if strikes went ahead.
The union is complaining about pay differentials of around £4,000 (U.S.$7,200) between customer service and other staff based at Ashford in Kent and Waterloo in London.
Eurostar later criticised the union and said any strike would be "pointless and unnecessary."
Director of Communications Paul Charles told the UK Press Association any industrial action would have no impact on passengers.
He said Eurostar was expecting to run eight extra services to Paris and Brussels from London over the Bank Holiday weekend because of a "huge demand" for tickets.
"All of our services will operate normally," he said.
Charles added that Eurostar was a "model employer" and said check-in staff were paid 50 per cent more than those doing similar jobs at airlines.
Staff retention rates at Eurostar were very high, he added.
