RMT members across 14 train operators and Network Rail will strike again next month as their long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions shows no sign of being resolved.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union will walk out on March 16, 18 and 20, and April 1, at 14 train operators including Avanti West Coast and LNER.
RMT members at Network Rail will strike on March 16 and will then launch a ban on overtime.
The union accused employers of refusing to put any new offers on the table. Network Rail insisted viable offers had been made and said the union was "condemning us all to a long and drawn-out dispute with no obvious end in sight".
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The RMT represents 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operators and rejected offers from employers last week.
Those companies include Avanti West Coast, LNER, Transpennine Express and Cross Country Trains, all of which offer services in Scotland. Other companies affected aree Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern , South Western Railway, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the Government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security.
“Therefore, our members will now take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months.
“The Government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies.
“However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban.
“Ministers cannot continue to sit on their hands hoping this dispute will go away as our members are fully prepared to fight tooth and nail for a negotiated settlement in the months ahead.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail chief negotiator, said: “The RMT’s leadership has shown its true colours by choosing politics over people. During months of talks we have made multiple concessions, compromises and offers in our determination to secure a deal.
“Thousands of employees are telling us they want the improved offer that we have tabled, an offer worth at least 9% over two years – rising to over 14% for the lowest paid, provides job security with no compulsory redundancies and 75% discounted rail travel.
“But instead of offering members a democratic vote with a referendum, the RMT leadership is hiding behind a sham ‘consultation’.
“Further strikes will disrupt passengers and cost employees money – while changing nothing as our package of very modest reforms continues.
“The RMT is well aware of the precarious position of the railway’s finances, with no more money to offer more.
“Their action is condemning us all to a long and drawn-out dispute with no obvious end in sight, and is only harming the very industry and people it claims to be here to protect.”
Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said: “Just days after denying its members a say on their own future, the RMT leadership is now trying to make them lose multiple days’ wages through yet more strikes.
“Passengers want this dispute to end. We have facilitated fair and reasonable offers on pay and reform, with a pay rise worth 5% last year and 4% this year, but, sadly, the RMT leadership is not interested.
“Our railways are not currently financially sustainable and these best and final offers would have given workers what they want and, crucially, the passengers what they need.
“All more strikes will do is damage the rail industry even further and drive more passengers away.”
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