Rail engineering workers will stage two 48-hour strikes in a row over jobs, in the latest sign of worker unrest amid the recession.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said today that its members at Jarvis Rail and Fastline would walk out from 6am on Saturday and again from 6am on July 11 after their employers refused to give guarantees on compulsory redundancies.

About 200 jobs are at risk in what the union called a “wider attack on employment on the railways” that it claims has put thousands of posts at risk. Concern for rail engineering jobs comes after Network Rail deferred nearly a third of its track renewal programme.

Network Rail said it hoped that the dispute would be quickly resolved and that the action would have no impact on the safe and punctual operation of the rail network. Network Rail has control of the day-to-day care and upkeep of the railway.

Bob Crow, the general secretary of RMT, said: “This strike is in direct response to the jobs massacre on the railways as the companies involved seek to protect profits at the expense of the workforce and the travelling public.

“RMT will not accept that rail engineers, doing essential work, are cannon fodder who can be hired and fired at the whim of accountants and senior managers. We warned that the deferral of a third of the renewals programme by Network Rail would have disastrous consequences and our fears are proving well founded.”

News of the strikes comes as union leaders begin talks with the London Underground to try to avert fresh strike action.

The RMT union staged a 48-hour walkout this month in a bitter row over jobs, pay and disciplinary issues, which caused travel chaos in the capital.

One of the main sticking points is jobs, with the union calling for a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

Transport for London said it was doing everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies, but warned that some jobs had to be cut as a result of the collapse of Metronet, the maintenance company.

A spokesman said: “We had constructive talks with the RMT in a preliminary meeting with the union at Acas on Friday and we look forward to continued discussion today.

“On pay, we have made an above-inflation offer which provides stability during tough economic times. On jobs, where we need to reduce the duplication in back-office jobs caused by the collapse of Metronet, we have given assurances that we will do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies. Frontline staff working on train, stations and in maintenance are not part of this process.”

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive