1000’s of rail staff to stage recent strikes over pay, jobs and circumstances
M
embers of the largest rail staff union are to stage recent strikes within the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and circumstances.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) mentioned 20,000 of its members in 14 prepare operators would stroll out on August 26 and September 2.
The union mentioned it had been left with “little choice” however to take additional motion because it had seen no improved or revised provide from the Rail Delivery Group.
RMT basic secretary Mick Lynch mentioned: “The mood among our members remains solid and determined in our national dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.
“We have had to call further strike action as we have received no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group.
“The reason for this is the Government has not allowed them a fresh mandate on which discussions could be held.
“Our members and our union will continue fighting until we can reach a negotiated and just settlement.”
The 14 prepare working firms affected by the brand new strikes are: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (together with Gatwick Express).
The repercussion of this deadlock impacts our workers, prospects and the communities throughout the nation that depend on the railway
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson mentioned: “With further strike action the RMT are once again targeting customers looking to enjoy various sporting events, festivals and the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans and forcing more cars on to the road.
“We have now made three offers, the latest of which would have given staff pay rises of up to 13% as well as job security guarantees, and the RMT executive have blocked this without a convincing explanation.
“We remain open to talks and we have said repeatedly that we want to give our people a pay rise, but until the union leadership and executive is united in what it wants and engages in good faith with the 30% shortfall in revenue the industry is continuing to grapple with post-Covid, it is difficult to move forward.
“Unfortunately, the repercussion of this impasse affects our staff, customers and the communities across the country that rely on the railway.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson mentioned: “The RMT leadership’s decision to call more strikes and cynically target the travelling public over the bank holiday weekend is disappointing.
“The Government has facilitated fair and reasonable pay offers. However, union bosses are opting to prolong this dispute by blocking their members from having a vote on these offers. We continue to urge that members are given their say and disruption is brought to an end.”