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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

Woman donates train fare to striking workers at Lime Street

A woman who couldn't get a planned train to London from Liverpool today donated her fare to striking rail workers outside Liverpool Lime Street.

The woman, called Tracey, handed the cash over to the RMT union hardship fund to support train staff who are heading out on strike today and across this week in an ongoing fight over pay, jobs and conditions.

The RMT Liverpool branch shared images of Tracey handing over the money, tweeting: "Avanti passenger Tracey who couldn't get to London today due to strike action donating her fare to the RMT hardship fund in solidarity."

READ MORE: Family forced to huddle together in same bed after heating and hot water turned off

There was another strong showing on the Lime Street picket line this morning as rail workers gathered for the first of four strike days this week. As well as today, there will be walk-outs tomorrow (Wednesday), Friday and Saturday. There are further planned strikes in January.

The RMT is involved in two negotiating battles, one with Network Rail, where it represents around 20,000 signallers and maintenance workers, and the other with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), where it represents about 20,000 workers at 14 train companies.

The industrial action is part of a long-running dispute between the RMT, and the train operators and Network Rail over pay, jobs and conditions.

Today's strike went ahead after RMT members rejected the latest offer from Network Rail. General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "The government is refusing to lift a finger to prevent these strikes and it is clear they want to make effective strike action illegal in Britain.

"We will resist that and our members, along with the entire trade union movement will continue their campaign for a square deal for workers, decent pay increases and good working conditions."

Network Rail boss Andrew Haines accused the RMT of "playing politics" and "work with us to bring this dispute to an end."

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