Eurostar is facing industrial action before Christmas after train managers at the international rail company voted to strike over working rosters. The company said that despite the vote to strike by train managers belonging to the RMT and TSSA unions, “it will endeavour to ensure that services will operate normally in the run-up to Christmas”.

Eurostar introduced new shift patterns after the fire in the Channel Tunnel in September. The company’s customer services director, Marc Noaro, said: “Following the Channel Tunnel incident and the introduction of the current amended timetable our passengers have experienced significant disruption and by far the majority have understood the situation. We are extremely disappointed that our UK train managers have decided on this course of action and at this time, and we will make every effort to ensure our travellers face no further disruption in the busy period up to Christmas and the New Year.”

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Our members have told the company very clearly that imposing unfair and unequal rosters is no way to reward staff who did all they could to help Eurostar get back to normal after the recent Channel tunnel fire. We hope the company will now get back in step with its own policy, withdraw these imposed rosters and get back around the table with us to find a fair and equitable solution.”

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said: “All our members want is for weekend duties to be shared equally among train managers on both sides of the Channel.

“Nobody wants to see services disrupted as Christmas approaches, but our members are telling us that they cannot accept unfair and imposed rosters that undermine their work-life balance.”

RMT members voted by 60 to 4 for strike action while TSSA members voted by 11 to 4 for action.