French and Belgian drivers to take over on Eurostar’s UK strike days

Passengers will not be inconvenienced by the two day strike that will be held by Eurostar’s UK staff as Eurostar officials have drafted in extra train drivers from Belgium and France to cover for them, officials from the rail company have assured. A spokesman belonging to Eurostar confirmed that they will be no cancellations or disruptions in services as Belgian and French drivers were already enlisted.

Around forty percent of Eurostar’s driver workforce will be going on strike. This accounts to almost 71 British drivers. The strike is a protest against Eurostar as talks between the staff and the company broke down.

The union plans to hold another strike on the 26th and 27th of December unless the demands placed by them are met. Currently the train drivers are seeking for compensation after the meal allowances were severely affected by the pound’s decline against the Euro.

A spokesman from the union confirmed its stand by declaring that the talks had finished without a conclusion and the management has made no further attempt to mollify them. To attain no disruption in schedules, the deploying of extra staff will reportedly cost Eurostar dearly.

Eurostar authorities’ latest proposition offers a payment of six hundred pounds in addition to other allowances. Insiders in the union believe that this offer has pleased quite a few and has increased chances of the strike being called off. Being a relatively bad year for travel, rail companies are not the only ones facing threats of action by staff. British Airways is also dealing with strike threats in its lucrative Christmas season.