Rail users are facing the prospect of mass disruption later this month after strike action was called over pay and job loss concerns. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has confirmed walkouts will be done on June 21, 23 and 25 by its workers at Network Rail and 13 train operators.
The first day of strike action will also coincide with industrial action by London Underground workers in a separate row over jobs and pensions, meaning more than 50,000 people will be striking on June 21. The RMT says the strike action will be the biggest on the railways since 1989.
Members of the trade union voted for the action last month. The RMT said staff who worked throughout the Covid pandemic are now facing pay freezes and hundreds of job cuts.
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RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously. We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1% and rising.
"Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system. Rail companies are making at least £500m a year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This unfairness is fuelling our members anger and their determination to win a fair settlement. RMT is open to meaningful negotiations with rail bosses and ministers, but they will need to come up with new proposals to prevent months of disruption on our railways."
Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said: "We continue to meet with our trades unions to discuss their pay concerns and we’re doing everything we can to avoid strike action on the railway. We know that the cost of living has increased and we want to give our people a pay rise, but the RMT must recognise we are a public body and any pay increase has to be affordable for taxpayers.
"Travel habits have changed forever and the railway must change as well. We cannot expect to take more than our fair share of public funds, and so we must modernise our industry to put it on a sound financial footing for the future. Failure to modernise will only lead to industry decline and more job losses in the long run.
"There are two weeks until the first strike is planned. We will use this time to keep talking to our unions and, through compromise and common sense on both sides, we hope to find a solution and avoid the damage that strike action would cause all involved."
