A WEEK-long strike by rail workers is due to begin this week.

Maintenance driver from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are taking industrial action against Northern Rail from 7pm on Thursday until 7pm next Wedneday, April 16.

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

The strike will involve Norther Rail staff based at depots at Heaton, in Newcastle, and Neville Hill, in Leeds.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite a rock solid 48 hour strike in February, and total support for the overtime ban, management refuse to take our members concerns seriously and have left us with no option other than to ratchet up the action with a week-long strike starting this Thursday."

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 offered practical solutions to help resolve this unnecessary dispute but the RMT has flatly dismissed these.”