Edinburgh train passengers are set to face travel chaos over Christmas as more train strikes have been announced.
Network Rail staff are expected to walk out, bringing trains to a halt during the crucial festive period. Those travelling across the country are being urged to plan ahead and take alternative transport.
This comes after six months of the long running dispute between Network Rail, train operators and Rail and Maritime and Transport union (RMT). The union is calling for a pay increase, job security and better working conditions.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for an urgent cabinet meeting in the wake of the news.
Mike Lynch announced on Monday, December 6, that industrial action will go forward with two 48-hour strikes next week and are now set to walk out from 6pm on December 24 until 6am on December 27.
Network Rail offered a four per cent pay rise this year, and another four per cent next year, along with no compulsory redundancies for general grades and controllers until January 31 2025.
Staff and their families will also get a 75 per cent discount on leisure travel and no unagreed changes to terms and conditions of employment will be made, the union said. The union recommended its members should reject the offer, claiming train operating companies still awaited a mandate from the Government.
Strikes affecting 14 train companies will go ahead next week, although talks will be held with the Rail Delivery Group on Tuesday. ScotRail are not associalted with these strikes, however, as we've seen from previous industrial action days, when Network Rail staff walk out, it brings the majority of trains in Scotland to a standstill.
ScotRail have yet to release a revised timetable for the strike days.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was unfortunate that the union had been “compelled to take this action due to the continuing intransigence of the employers”.
He said: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the Government to the detriment of our members.”
Meanwhile, The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) announced it was calling off strikes planned in Network Rail for December and is putting an offer to its members.
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s chief negotiator, said: “This response from the RMT to a significantly enhanced offer exposes their true priority – using the British public and Network Rail workers as pawns in a fight with the Government.
“What use is a referendum that means that strike disruption is inevitable? At best it’s the tactic the RMT played in October by calling the strikes off at the last minute and causing immense disruption to passengers and vital freight routes.
“They are playing fast and loose with people’s Christmas plans and the new strike dates announced deliberately target vital engineering work designed to improve the railway.
“A significantly improved offer is now on the table that gives Network Rail workers job security, a decent pay rise and some other substantial benefits for employees and their families.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that, despite a new and improved deal offering job security and a fair pay rise, the RMT is not only continuing with upcoming industrial action but has called more strikes over Christmas.
“It’s especially disappointing given the TSSA union has described this new and improved deal as the ‘best we can achieve through negotiation’ and called off strikes.
“The Government has played its part by facilitating a fair and decent offer but, by instructing its members to reject it, the RMT has failed to play its part and our rail network now faces more harmful disruption rather than helpful discussion.”
December strike dates
RMT Network Rail staff will be walking out on the following days.
- Tuesday December 13
- Wednesday December 14
- Friday December 16
- Saturday December 17
Saturday December 24 at 6pm
Tuesday December 27
January strike dates 2023
- Tuesday January 3
- Wednesday January 4
- Friday January 6
- Saturday January 7
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