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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Matthew Dresch

'Biggest rail strike in modern history' WILL go ahead next week after pay talks break down

Rail and tube strikes will go ahead next week after pay talks broke down.

It is expected to be the biggest rail strike in modern history, with 40,000 union members walking out.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it had held discussions in the past few weeks at senior levels with Network Rail, train operators and London Underground.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “Despite the best efforts of our negotiators no viable settlements to the disputes have been created.”

Members of RMT at Network Rail and 13 train operators will strike on June 21, 23 and 25.

Tube workers will strike on June 21 to coincide with the first rail strike, threatening widespread travel chaos.

The RMT said members are striking over job cuts and below-inflation pay rises, with the Government slashing funding for National Rail and Transport for London.

Rail strikes are set to go ahead in the UK next week (Getty Images)

Network Rail previously warned about half of its lines will close during the industrial action.

Many parts of the country will have no services running at all, including lines going north from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and to Penzance in Cornwall.

Bournemouth in Dorset, Swansea in south Wales, Holyhead in north Wales, Chester in Cheshire and Blackpool in Lancashire will also not be served on the strike days.

Mr Lynch said: “It has to be restated that the source of these disputes is the decision by the Tory Government to cut £4billion of funding from our transport systems – £2billion from national rail and £2billion from Transport for London.

Network Rail said its services will be "significantly compromised" (Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“As a result of this transport austerity imposed by the Government, the employing companies have taken decisions to savage the Railway Pension Scheme and the Transport for London scheme, cutting benefits, making staff work longer, and poorer in retirement, while paying increased contributions.”

Mr Lynch said thousands of jobs were being cut across the rail networks and workers were facing below-inflation pay rises.

“In the face of this massive attack on our people the RMT cannot be passive.

“So today, having heard the reports on the discussions that have been taking place we are confirming that the strike action scheduled to take place on 21st, 23rd and 25th June will go ahead.

General Secretary of the RMT Mick Lynch said Tory cuts are behind the strike (Phil Harris)

“We want a transport system that operates for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment – not for private profit.

“We call on the entire labour movement and the working people to rally to the support of the RMT and our members in this struggle."

Network Rail boss Andrew Haines said: "Make no mistake, the level of service we will be able to offer will be significantly compromised and passengers need to take that into account and to plan ahead and only travel if it's really necessary to do so."

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Those who need to get across the country on a strike day with no alternative means of transport should book ahead.

The last train from Manchester to London will leave at 2.47pm and the last from Norwich to London at 4pm.

The number of services running is expected to be around 4,500 compared with 20,000 normally, Network Rail said.

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