‘Cynical’ union targets financial institution vacation as 20,000 rail employees go on strike

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has been blasted for staging a “cynical” strike that may disrupt rail providers at the moment (Saturday, August 26) throughout the busy financial institution vacation weekend.

Around 20,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at 14 practice operators will stroll out, crippling providers throughout England, as a part of the deadlocked dispute over pay, jobs and circumstances. The newest stoppage within the row, now in its second yr, comes as no progress has been made with rail operators, which the union says are “hamstrung” by the Government refusing to provide them a mandate to make a revised pay provide.

However, the Government has hit again on the union – accusing it of “cynically targeting the bank holiday weekend” and “damaging its own industry’s future”.

The RMT can also be planning a strike on September 2, whereas members of the drivers union Aslef are taking strike motion on September 1, threatening days of disruption. The rail unions are additionally embroiled in a dispute over controversial plans to shut railway ticket workplaces, which have additionally angered passenger teams and people representing aged and disabled passengers.

More than 460,000 individuals have responded to a session on the plans and a protest is being held reverse Downing Street on August 31, a day earlier than the session ends. Trains will begin in a while Saturday and end earlier – and a few areas could have no providers.

The strike will have an effect on these travelling to occasions such because the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Reading and Leeds festivals. RMT basic secretary Mick Lynch mentioned: “The Government is not serious about settling this dispute which is leading to further disruption for passengers.

“Rail operators are not being given a mandate to make a new offer that we can put to members in a referendum to settle this dispute. Meanwhile, our campaign to save ticket offices will reach new levels with a rally outside Parliament on August 31, where we will tell ministers in no uncertain terms that ticket offices must be kept open and our communities preserved.

“Our industrial campaign will continue as long as it takes to get a negotiated settlement, and to save as many ticket offices as possible. RMT members remain committed to winning a pay rise, securing their future employment and maintaining good working conditions.

“They have shown tremendous resolve in the face of a government that is playing politics and refusing to do a deal.”

Aslef basic secretary Mick Whelan mentioned the dispute is now political and practice drivers are decided to hold on taking industrial motion. Some practice corporations have suggested individuals to journey on Saturday provided that needed.

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson mentioned: “The industry will be working hard to keep as many services running as possible. There is no question the strikes called by the RMT and Aslef leaderships are deliberately designed to target passengers who want to enjoy various sporting events and festivals during the bank holiday, and at the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans, hurting local economies and forcing more cars on to the road.

“This, despite having the RMT having repeatedly refused their memberships a vote on offers of up to 13% for the lowest paid over two years, which could easily settle this dispute. There will unfortunately be some reduced services on August 26, Friday and September 1 and 2. As the level of service varies across the country, our advice is to check before you travel and follow the latest travel information, and passengers with advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson mentioned: “The Government has played its part to try and end these disputes by facilitating fair and reasonable pay offers, but union leaders refuse to allow their members to vote on them.

“By cynically targeting the bank holiday weekend, and driving more passengers away from train travel when our railways are already losing £10 million a day even without industrial action, the RMT’s strikes are damaging its own industry’s future.”