30 July 2026
RMT Press Office:
Rail union RMT said that outsourced cleaners and catering workers at TransPennine Express (TPE) will take 48-hour strike action against low pay from tomorrow (Friday, July 31).
Catering workers at Rail Gourmet and cleaners at Bidvest Noonan will take action as the company has yet to even make a pay offer even though the anniversary date was back in April.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that low pay was how outsourcing giants made money out of the rail network and called on the government to act.
“Companies like Rail Gourmet and Bidvest Noonan hide behind the fact that TPE won’t take responsibility for low pay on their contracts.
“The government needs to act to end the scourge of low pay for outsourced workers and bring them in-house where they belong,” he said.
Rail Gourmet pickets on Friday and Saturday at the following locations:
· Carlisle Station 10:00hrs to 13:00hrs
· Newcastle Central 11:00hrs to 14:00hrs
· Edinburgh Waverley 11:00hrs to 14:00hrs
· Glasgow Central 11:00hrs to 14:00hrs
· Liverpool Lime St 0600hrs to 13:00hrs
· Manchester Piccadilly 0800hrs to 11:00hrs
Bidvest Noonan pickets on Friday and Saturday at the following locations:
· Manchester Piccadilly 08:00hrs to 11:00hrs
· Liverpool Lime St 06:00hrs to 13:00hrs
· Middlesborough 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs
· Newcastle 11:00hrs to 14:00hrs
ENDS
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
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