Rail passengers are set to face disruption to ticket checks and station barriers as staff employed on Northern Rail contracts prepare to strike over pay and conditions.
The RMT union confirmed that its members working for Carlisle Support Services, which provides revenue protection and station gateline roles on the Northern network, will stage a 24-hour walkout on Tuesday. From Wednesday, staff will also refuse to scan tickets or charge company equipment at home in an escalation of the dispute.
According to the union, the strike follows nine months of failed negotiations, with the company refusing to make an acceptable pay offer. Carlisle Support Services has been contacted for comment.
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, urged the company to resolve the row, “Our members do vital frontline work keeping stations safe and services running and they deserve respect and a fair pay rise. It is time to come back with a serious offer.”
He also called for the workers to be directly employed by Northern rather than outsourced.
The union warned that strike action will disrupt ticket checks and barrier operations across Northern stations, potentially causing delays and inconvenience for passengers.
Northern Rail said it was unable to comment on the dispute.
