Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union representatives in Newcastle have warned of a 'dehumanized railway' as they took to picket lines outside Central Station in a row over jobs, pay and conditions.
Thousands of staff employed by Network Rail, the London Underground, and 13 train operators, began three days of strike action across the country on Tuesday, with walk-outs also planned on Thursday, June 23, and Saturday, June 25. The RMT says operators and Network Rail are proposing new pay rates that do not rise in line with inflation.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said Network Rail had offered a 2% pay rise with the possibility of a further 1% later dependent on efficiency savings. The RMT also says rail operators are seeking to bring in job cuts which could include compulsory redundancies that would have safety implications on the rail network.
