A TWO-day rail strike is set to go ahead from tomorrow evening.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) is taking industrial action against Northern Rail from 7pm on Wednesday to 7pm on Friday.

They will also implement an ongoing overtime ban from Friday in a dispute over a re-grading exercise which the union claims has failed to recognise the complex and demanding role of staff.

The trade union says it has ignored the skills and hard work that they bring to the company.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT firmly believe that the company has been disingenuous in their approach by failing to recognise the multi-skills and the hard work that this group of maintenance depot drivers bring to the Northern Rail operation.

“The union is clear that the job is complex and demanding, and that now is the time for the company to acknowledge that Maintenance Depot Drivers should be re-graded accordingly in recognition of their role and responsibilities.”

Maintenance driver members at Heaton, Newcastle, and Neville Hill, Leeds, will be taking part.

Adrian Thompson, human resources director for Northern Rail said: “This is not a dispute of our making. The RMT is yet again, making unrealistic and unsubstantiated demands without any reasoning.

“We have a robust contingency plan in place so there will be minimal disruption, if any, to our customers’ normal train service, a service we work hard to deliver for them.”