Britain’s National Rail heads to court in bid to avert strike
By APThursday, April 1, 2010
Rail company heads to court to avert strike
LONDON — The company that operates Britain’s railways is challenging a planned four-day strike by signal workers in court.
Network Rail is arguing in the High Court on Thursday that the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union’s ballot of workers for the walkout is invalid because of “inaccuracies and deficiencies.”
The company has warned that it will have to cancel scores of services — disrupting travel for hundreds of people — if the stoppage goes ahead as planned from Tuesday.
The union is protesting cost-cutting measures, including axing 1,500 jobs, which it argues will undermine safety and threaten job security.
Network Rail says it wants to continue to negotiate, but has taken court action because it has a “responsibility to the entire country” to avert the strike.
