Network Rail bosses to seek High Court injunction to stop strikes

Network Rail bosses are set to seek an injunction against planned strikes by railway workers at the High Court later today, it has emerged.

The rail firm will claim the signallers’ ballot had “scores of discrepancies and inaccuracies”, making the planned four-day walkout from 6-9 April next week unlawful, the BBC has reported.

The RMT, whose members are striking over job cuts and plans to increase evening and weekend work, said it would be “robustly defending” its position in court, insisting that any ballots have been “perfectly above-board”.

Unions and Network Rail have so far entered two days of talks aimed at settling the dispute before next week.

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RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “This is a scandalous attempt by Network Rail to use the full weight of the anti-union laws to deny our members their basic human right to withdraw their labour, and we will fight this assault on our union to the hilt.”

A Network Rail statement said: “Talks continue and our aim is a negotiated settlement, but we must explore all avenues at our disposal and that includes legal ones.”

If the industrial action goes ahead, it will be the first national rail strike in 16 years.

Yesterday, business groups warned the strikes could force some businesses to close, making staff take unpaid leave.