Rail unions have today announced yet another round of strikes, set to commence next month as part of ongoing disputes regarding pay, jobs, and working conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has declared that 20,000 of its members from 14 rail firms will down tools on July 20, 22, and 29.
The Government immediately a sharp counter-attack, accusing the union of intentionally coinciding their strikes with two notable international sporting events: the fourth and fifth Ashes Test and The Open golf championship. The fourth Test is being held from July 19 at Old Trafford and the Open is on the same weekend at Hoylake, on the Wirral.
The RMT claimed that the rail operators have not made any new pay proposals to end the drawn-out argument. In a statement, the RMT said: "Despite repeated declarations of our readiness to enter further discussions, neither the rail operators nor the Government have invited us to any meetings." Mick Lynch, RMT's General Secretary, voiced his concern, stating: "This latest phase of action will demonstrate to the nation just how vital railway staff are to the functioning of the rail industry.
"My negotiation team and I are always on standby for discussions with the train operating companies and Government ministers. Yet, astoundingly, neither party has made any effort to schedule any meetings or put forward a substantial offer that could aid us in finding a negotiated resolution.
"The Government continues to restrain the companies and won't let them propose a package that could resolve this conflict. Over the past year, our members have voted three times to go on strike – the most recent vote aligning with receiving the full details of the inadequate offer from the rail operators.
"They voted by 9-1 to renew their strike mandate, and the RMT will carry on its industrial action until we reach a negotiated agreement regarding pay, working conditions, and job security."
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport expressed their disapproval, saying: “The RMT leadership’s decision to call strikes during two iconic international sporting events and the beginning of the summer holidays will disrupt plans nationwide. After a year of industrial action, both passengers and rail workers are fed up with union chiefs meddling with their lives. It's about time the union leaders realised that strikes no longer wield the power they once did and are merely pushing people away from the railway.
"The union leaders ought to do the right thing and give their members an opportunity to vote on these pay offers."
The Rail Delivery Group retorted: "More strikes are utterly needless. All the RMT has accomplished in a year of industrial action is to lose their members more money than they would've gained from the pay offers they refused to vote on, despite having agreed to the terms with the negotiators present.
"We've made three offers that the RMT executive have blocked without a satisfactory explanation. We continue to be open for discussions and have stated repeatedly that we want to give our staff a pay rise. But until the union leadership and executive can agree on their demands and honestly engage with the 30% revenue shortfall the industry continues to wrestle with post-Covid, it's hard to progress.
"Regrettably, our staff, customers, and the local communities that rely on a flourishing railway are the ones suffering as a result."
This announcement of strikes comes exactly one year after the first RMT walkout, when union members at different train companies left their posts on June 21. Since then, the rail industry has seen a series of strikes, coupled with industrial action from numerous other workers, including nurses, junior doctors, and teachers.
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