Rail operator faces strike over ‘transparent’ uniforms Business

A spokesperson said: ‘The uniform has been tested by staff across the company and this issue has not come up.’

Avanti, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Italian state-backed Trenitalia, took over management of the west coast line from Virgin Trains in a 2019 deal that marked the end of two decades of involvement of Sir Richard Branson in British Railways.

Mr Lynch became head of the RMT a year ago and signaled he was not afraid to cripple the railways to block changes to modernize the network.

At the time, he said: “Unions must adopt a militant position and use the weapon of the strike wherever appropriate”.

The RMT is already in the midst of a campaign against Avanti on behalf of the cleaners, who it says have been denied sick pay.

Workers at the cleaning company Atalian Servest currently earn more than minimum wage. The RMT wants their remuneration to be further increased.

In February, Mr Lynch wrote to union members saying there had been a breakdown in industrial relations with Avanti bosses.

He said: “Extensive negotiations and discussions have taken place with the employer. Your union has raised various issues that need to be resolved to resolve this dispute. »