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UP to 12,000 Network Rail maintenance workers in Britain's biggest rail union are to strike again at the weekend after talks on the long-running dispute over terms and conditions failed to reach a solution.

RMT members will not book on for shifts that commence between midday on Saturday (July 26) and 6pm the following day.

Members will also not undertake any overtime or on-call' work between 6am on Saturday and 6am on Monday.

Weekend maintenance work was brought to a virtual standstill during the first stoppage in the dispute, over the weekend June 14 and 15.

"We had hoped that fresh talks after our first strike would make some progress, but it is clear that the company is still trying to use what should be talks about harmonisation as a cost-cutting attack on jobs and conditions," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.

"Our reps met today and to say they are angry at the lack of progress would be an understatement, and the RMT executive has agreed to call the second weekend's stoppage our reps have demanded.

"Our first strike was a solid demonstration by our members that they expect talks about harmonisation to produce proposals about harmonisation, not ever-longer lists of the conditions the company wants to destroy.

"We remain available for talks, but if Network Rail wants to settle this dispute it should get around the table and negotiate a harmonisation package that is acceptable to our members."

Network Rail has said it believes that services will not be affected, but there could be cancellations if any track fails and cannot be repaired until the following week.

1:37pm Saturday 19th July 2008

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