WORKERS at Northern Rail are to stage two strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), who work at Northern Rail gate lines, will walk out tomorrow and again on Saturday June 8.

The union said its members, who are employed by a private contractor, are paid less than directly employed staff and do not receive other benefits.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We cannot allow this injustice to continue which is why our members are taking more strike action this Friday and next month.

“Our members are the first to interact with the travelling public and if there is any abuse, anti-social behaviour or assaults, they are on the receiving end.

“Yet they are treated as second-class workers, doing shifts alongside directly employed Northern Rail station staff.

“All these workers want is to be treated equally and get the same pay and conditions as their colleagues in Northern Rail.

“RMT will continue our industrial campaign for as long as it takes to get justice for our members.”