The RMT has announced four more days of strikes across Network Rail and the train operating companies after it said that the latest pay and conditions offer was unacceptable.
The union which represents 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operators says that rail workers will now launch a programme of strike action and Network Rail members will commence an overtime ban affecting maintenance and operations work.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security.”
“Therefore, our members will now take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months.”
The RMT says that it is now seeking an unconditional offer from rail operators and Network Rail, while the train companies and Network Rail have linked pay offers to efficiency improvements.
The strikes are likely to have a modest effect on the train companies, as the drivers are not striking, but the effect of the Network Rail staff walking out will be far more serious as that knocks out most of the signalling, without which no trains can run.
The strikes will take place on:
- Thursday 16th March – Strike action by train companies and Network Rail
- Friday 17th March – No strike, but expect severe disruption in the morning
- Saturday 18th Match – Strike action by train companies
- Thursday 30th March – Strike action by train companies
- Friday 31st March – No strike, but expect disruption in the morning
- Saturday 1st April – Strike action by train companies
There will also be an overtime ban at Network Rail covering maintenance and operations staggered throughout late March and April.
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson, said: ““The RMT leadership’s decision not to put the deal out to a referendum means that thousands of their lowest paid members have been denied a chance to have a say on an offer which would give them a pay increase of over 13%.”
“The RMT agreed from the outset that the industry needed modernisation and understood that was how a pay rise could be funded. After many months of extensive talks and meeting key demands on DOO, pay and job security, the leadership have now reneged on that position and say they not accept any reforms. They know that no employer who has lost 20% of its revenue could accept those terms.”
“The vital changes will not go away because the RMT refuses to engage with them. We remain open to having further talks, but urge the leadership to put the deal they negotiated with us to a democratic vote and allow their members – our people – a say their own future.”
Give the staff a 10./ rise drivers platform staff and ticket inspectors then there would be no strike action every time the money you’re losing every time there’s a strike on you’re losing money all the time so change your mind and give staff a rise you will notice the difference how f
Trains would run on time I travel by train from Folkestone up to London every day when a strike is on that’s when I can’t get to work
Dear Sir or Ma’am,
I travelled by train from Milton Keynes to London Euston, then London Waterloo to Bournemouth where I was met by my friend who drove as there is no railway nearer to where he and his wife live. The train split at Southampton Central, I would have able to get to Bournemouth in either portion of the train, however the front portion was quicker as it didn’t call at many of the stations that the rear portion did. It was nice to be able to ask someone as I had processed the information wrongly when I read the Departure Boards at London Waterloo.
Across London, as I needed to pop into Metro Bank, I used the bus, for the first section, I walked Euston Road as I number of Routes join the direction of Travel. The Tube was not direct on either journey (before or after visiting Metro Bank) from origin to destination, so therefore I opted for the bus.
Many thanks
The problem is the conditions they want 10 weekends working which could include Friday sat night working that means 40 weekends of two weekend days and permanent night shift they don’t tell you that what life have u got