Zarah ChoudharyFollowing a breakdown in negotiations, drivers and maintenance crew working at Eurotunnel Services Ltd are to take strike action throughout March.
Around a dozen members will walk out after rejecting a pay offer from the employer.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite said: “Eurotunnel is a hugely profitable company with billions in revenue, record passenger numbers and nearly half a billion in profits last year.
“Yet it is not paying our members their real worth, they are keeping the show on the rails.
“Without their skills and hard work, train services simply couldn’t run. Our members will have the full backing of Unite in this dispute.”
Workers are set to strike on the next five Sundays starting on 9th March, 2025.
Phil Silkstone, regional officer at Unite said: “Eurotunnel has been given numerous opportunities to resolve this dispute but it has failed to do so.
“Any subsequent disruption to services is directly a result of the company’s own actions.
“Our door has been open to return to negotiations but Eurotunnel has made no attempt to engage with us.
“Our maintenance drivers simply want an increase which values the work they do in an extremely challenging environment.”
A Eurotunnel spokesperson: “We can confirm that the union Unite, representing a team of works train drivers (12 employees) from Eurotunnel Services Limited, the British branch of Eurotunnel in Folkestone, responsible for maintaining the Channel Tunnel, has given notice of strike action.
“This strike notice concerns five consecutive Sundays from 00:01 to 23:59 from 9 March.
“If implemented, the strike will NOT affect commercial services or rail traffic in the tunnel.
“LeShuttle and LeShuttle Freight will continue to operate as normal.”
