Northern Rail workers go on strike in dispute over pay and conditions
Services in the region have been disrupted due to the industrial action
Northern Rail workers have gone on strike, causing disruption to much of the operator's network.
In total, 150 ticket barrier staff from the franchise who form part of the Rail and Maritime Trade Union (RMT) are going on picket lines across the region on Saturday (March 16th).
Pickets have been set up in Manchester, Wigan and Leeds, just to name a few of the cities affected by the industrial action, which began at 12:01 a.m. and will finish at midnight on Sunday (March 17th).
As part of their demands, workers are appealing for zero hours contracts to be abolished, as well as the retiring of the Timegate app, that has miscalculated accurate pay and leave allowance.
Carlisle Support Services, who runs the contract for so-called "gate-line" workers (including ticket barrier staff) at Northern do not provide sick pay, holiday pay and provide significantly lower wages to their staff compared with the rest of Northern, according to the trade union itself.
Speaking on the strike action, RMT Union General Secretary Mick Lynch said that workers will continue industrial action until those with power are ready to sit down and negotiate.
"Our members are once again taking strike action against a company who has shown no regard for their staff and is not willing to settle this dispute.
"We will continue our industrial campaign until we can reach a negotiated settlement.
"Ultimately the only long term solution is to end contracting out and bring the gate-line contract back in house with all the benefits of direct employment from Northern."
Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.