Talks to end the dispute between the RMT and CrossCountry have failed, and the union has announced new strike dates.

The dispute is mainly over pay, including overtime rates, rest day working and differentials between grades.

The RMT said it had tried to negotiate a settlement ‘for months’, and it called a series of weekend walkouts between June and October this year, but it also said CrossCountry, which is owned by Arriva, had ‘failed to honour agreements’, and that ‘no credible progress was being made’.

The new strikes have been called on all four Saturdays in December, starting on the 6th and continuing until the 27th.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: ‘CrossCountry has not dealt with the core issues in this dispute and has come back with a proposal that is worse than what was already on the table.

‘Our members are still facing unresolved staffing shortages, unfair pay outcomes and broken commitments. RMT members have been left with no choice but to take strike action.

‘The company must return with a serious offer that meets the commitments it has already made and treats our members with the fairness and respect they deserve.’

CrossCountry managing director Shiona Rolfe said: ‘We are disappointed for our customers that the RMT has announced further industrial action.

‘We’ve worked hard to make a fair and reasonable offer that addresses the key points raised in this dispute, and we've made meaningful progress in negotiations.

‘Our priority remains reaching an agreement that avoids disruption for passengers in the busy Christmas period, and we are ready to continue talks at any time.’

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