UNION leaders have rejected a revised pay offer and announced more industrial action over the festive period.
The RMT announced it was recommending its members reject the latest offer from Network Rail following confirmation it would hold an electronic vote on the proposed deal.
Although ScotRail workers in the RMT accepted a new pay offer at the end of November, travellers still face disruption as Network Rail employees are needed for railways to be fully functioning.
Below is all the information you need about strike action taking place in December.
On which dates are the strikes?
The union confirmed that all strike action planned for December 13, 14, 16 and 17 is set go ahead.
It also announced industrial action will take place between 6pm on Christmas Eve through to 5.59am on December 27.
What has been said about the strikes?
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch 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.”
Elsewhere, Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said the response “exposes the true priority of the RMT” which is “using the British public and Network Rail workers as pawns in a fight with the Government”.
He added: “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.”
Could the strikes be called off?
Rishi Sunak is set to address his Cabinet this morning in a bid to resolve the ongoing dispute.
At this moment though, the strikes listed are all going ahead as planned.
