Thousands of workers with some of the UK's biggest train operators and Network Rail will be asked to vote on strike action in disputes over jobs and pay. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said a yes vote among its 40,000 members could lead to the biggest rail strike in modern history.
The union claimed Network Rail is planning to cut at least 2,500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a £2 billion reduction in spending, while workers at train operators have been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions. Strike action could begin in June if workers vote to walkout in the ballot running from April 26 to May 24.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have had to contend with pay freezes, the prospect of losing their jobs and repeated attacks on their terms and conditions. Removing 2,500 safety-critical jobs from Network Rail will spell disaster for the public, make accidents more likely and will increase the possibility of trains flying off the tracks.
