Rail workers could strike throughout 2023 and into next year, according to a union boss.
Train strikes caused travel chaos throughout 2022, with action over the festive period creating havoc on the tracks as the new year started. And action will likely occur throughout the coming months.
The General Secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union, Mick Lynch, explained that the a settlement is being worked on night and day, but stressed that minister will not budge. And with members not willing to give in, the industrial action is likely to continue for some time.
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The RMT leader says 40,000 of his rail members have no choice but to keep walking out until a pay agreement is reached and jobs are protected, reports The Mirror.
Mr Lynch will sit down with the Government for the first time in almost a month on Monday, January 9 when he meets rail minister Huw Merriman.
Mr Lynch said “This is nothing less than a struggle for survival and the future of the industry. If we roll over now there will be no guards on trains in two years and no ticket offices left. This is a turning point for the industry. But unlike the mines the railways aren’t going to disappear so this must be sorted out.”
Those striking receive no pay for the days of industrial action, with the union lead explaining: “It’s tough and they’re taking some blows. They lose all their wages and more in pension deductions so this is a big sacrifice.
“But no-one wants to give up. it’s more what to do next, not if we do it.”
Travellers can expect more than 48-hour stoppages in the coming months, with strikes throughout other industries posing a risk to this issues turning into the nearest thing to a General Strike since 1926.
These particular strikes are separate to those of ScotRail. However, RMT member strikes hugely impact all services across Scotland, with skeleton services running on previous strike days.
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