Rail union TSSA has announced plans to ballot hundreds of Amey employees over strike action following a pay offer that amounts to a real-terms wage cut.

The ballot, which opens on Wednesday 3 December and closes at 12 noon on Monday 15 December, will involve TSSA members working for Amey across Scotland, Wales, the North East, Midlands, London, and Southern regions. Members will be asked to support strike action in response to Amey’s decision to press ahead with a pay increase of 2.2 per cent or a £900 underpin, despite the offer previously being rejected by the workforce.

If industrial action goes ahead, it could disrupt the surveying and maintenance of railway infrastructure, work which is critical for keeping the network safe and operational. Approximately 300 TSSA members are expected to be included in the ballot.

Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary of TSSA, said:

“This ballot is about securing a fair pay deal for our members. Amey’s decision to move ahead with a previously rejected offer shows they are acting in bad faith towards their workforce. TSSA members, who are highly skilled, work hard to maintain a safe railway. They deserve a fair deal that takes into account inflation and the rising cost of living.”

Members are being asked to vote in favour of strike action and action short of strike (ASOS), including bans on overtime, on-call duties, and extra assignments.

Amey provides a range of services across transport and infrastructure, including to Network Rail, London Underground, and Transport for Wales. Its work includes maintaining and enhancing rail systems, such as track, signalling, power systems, and electrification, alongside related civil engineering tasks and asset management. TSSA is the only union with collective bargaining rights for Amey Consulting, Amey Infrastructure, and parts of Amey Highways Geo Tech, representing managers across Rail Design, CEFA, and CAFA teams.

Image: TSSA