Rail workers have chosen to extend strike action for potentially another six months, the RMT union announced.
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. This makes it the largest incidence of industrial action since 1989.
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 dispute over jobs, pay, and conditions.
Lynch said: "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."
But when will the next train strikes take place and why are rail workers striking?
When are the next train strikes?
At the moment, there are no confirmed dates for future train strikes.
The most recent strike to stop trains across England took place during the Conservative Party Conference this month, by train drivers in Aslef, who also voted for continued industrial action in ballots that concluded in June.
Why are rail workers striking?
Unions say they want a pay offer that reflects the constantly rising cost of living.
The industry says changes to ways of working need to be agreed in order for pay to go up.
The Rail Delivery Group offered train staff in the RMT a nine per cent two-year deal in early 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.
