Mick Lynch says rail workers could still be striking this time next year. The General Secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union says he is working night and day on a settlement but ministers will not budge, and he says his members will not give in.
Mr Lynch will have his first sit down with the Government in 25 days when he meets with rail minister Huw Merriman on Monday. The RMT leader says 40,000 of his rail members have no choice but to keep walking out unless a backdated four per cent pay offer is improved and jobs protected.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, 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.”
Rail workers get no pay when they are on strike. Mr Lynch said: “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.”
Mr Lynch said travellers can expect more of the 48-hour stoppages they faced last week. And he said it is possible there will still be strikes next January.
Mr Lynch will be meeting the TUC and other striking unions this week to organise a synchronised day of action. It could turn into the nearest thing to a General Strike since 1926.
Mr Lynch will not say what an acceptable offer is, but he has settled disputes elsewhere for between seven and 9.5%.
Eurostar last year agreed to 8%, Scotrail up to 9%,Transport for Wales up to 9.5% and they kept their guards, Merseyrail 7%, MTR Crossrail: 8.2% and Docklands Light Railway:9.25%
And in 2021 Mr Lynch negotiated an 8.4% pay rise for London Underground.
