Rail workers at English train operating companies have voted overwhelmingly for another six months of potential strikes, the RMT union announced.
More than 20,000 union members were balloted across the 14 companies contracted to the Department for Transport, with 90% voting to give the union a continued mandate for strikes, on a 64% turnout.
The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said the members had given the union “a decisive mandate for future industrial action” while it pursued a negotiated settlement in the long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
The first nationwide strikes on the UK railway in decades were called in June 2022, and rail workers in the RMT have since gone on strike on more than 20 days.
Lynch added: “This ringing endorsement of RMT’s approach to the dispute now means we have industrial leverage to secure an improved offer. The government, who controls this dispute through a contractual mandate over the train operating companies, must now allow the Rail Delivery Group to put forward a revised offer so we can work towards reaching a settlement. However, if no new offer is forthcoming we will once again take strike action in defence of our members’ livelihoods.”
The union said it had passed the threshold under union law of at least 40% of all members balloted at each firm voting yes, in its fourth consecutive national rail ballot.
The Rail Delivery Group offered train staff in the RMT a 9% two-year deal early in 2023, which was rejected by the union. The industry body said it would not increase the offer and urged the union to put the proposal to a full ballot.
The last strike to stop trains across England came during the Conservative party conference this month. The strike was staged by train drivers in Aslef, who also voted overwhelmingly for continued industrial action in ballots that concluded in June.
