A pledge to "get creative" with rail strikes has left many travellers fearful of walkouts at Christmas, leaving people stranded the length and breadth of the country. Mail Online reports unions are threatening travel disruption during the hectic festive period if its ongoing row with train operators, Network Rail and the Government bleeds into December.
Eddie Dempsey, assistant secretary at the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, and his boss, general secretary Mick Lynch, have both indicated they are prepared to encourage members to take industrial action over Christmas if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement. Mr Dempsey told The Mirror: "We're in it until we win it. It'll affect Christmas.
"The way things are, we're going to have to get creative. I won't let the cat out of the bag, but we will alter our industrial position if we don't see some movement in the next short period. We don't want to continue strikes through Christmas, but if there is no settlement they will continue."
Some 54,000 workers from four unions went on strike on Saturday in the dispute over pay, conditions, pensions and job security, causing the rail network to grind to a halt. Members of the Aslef and TSSA unions walk out on Wednesday, followed by the RMT on Saturday.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said his members were frustrated with the lack of progress in the dispute, adding: "We don't want to be on strike but this dispute will continue until the Government lifts the shackles from the train companies. The message I am receiving from my members is that they want more industrial action, so I think more strikes are inevitable."
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has written to Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, asking her to take "urgent steps to allow a negotiated settlement". The union highlighted figures it said showed railway chiefs will benefit from Government tax cuts to the tune of up to £61,000 a year. The union said this was more than most of its members will earn in a year and in many cases double.
Mr Lynch, who met Ms Trevelyan last month, wrote: "As you know, when we met, I described the meeting as 'positive' but the only public statement since then has been from the Chancellor during his fiscal event stating he will be bringing forward legislation to remove rail workers' right to strike. Despite our positive discussion, the Chancellor's intervention has made an already difficult dispute harder to resolve.
"I am also concerned the Government has recently been taking action that is lining the pockets of the 'railway rich' whilst rail workers continue to endure pay freezes and real-terms pay cuts."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
