What is the problem at Cross Country trains?

[ianrail]

Apparently a strike has been called by the RMT this Friday 21st December following a "comprehensive breakdown" in industrial relations, yet the company's website says that a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow where they appear optimistic about a resolution. Do we have any members of the Forum who work for the company and can tell us (without exposing themselves to the danger of legal action for libel please!) what is going on?

Also do we by any chance have anyone who drives their Voyager trains? To me they always seem cramped (at least in Standard class), there is a bad smell around the toilets and one I was in today was roasting hot but they do have excellent acceleration and high speed performance. I was wondering what they were like to drive.

[ianrail]

I've just seen that strike action for Friday has been averted, which is good news for passengers and staff alike just before Christmas. Although negotiations are continuing, hopefully we will hear in due course what the problem was and how it was resolved.

[gcguard]

The proposed strike was due to the dismissal of a member of staff. This particular member of staff was a H&S rep, and on return for what they thought was a back to work interview after being off sicked, was dismissed.