It’s been dubbed the summer of strikes for a reason. Following the three-day strike by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) earlier this month, it’s been announced that UK rail workers will strike again on July 27.
The industrial action is in response to an ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions. Network Rail recently offered a pay rise of four percent to rail workers for 2022 (as well as the possibility of an additional four percent next year), if workers agreed to accept new working conditions – but union leaders rejected the offer.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The offer from Network Rail represents a real terms pay cut for our members and the paltry sum is conditional on RMT members agreeing to drastic changes in their working lives.
‘We have made progress on compulsory redundancies. But Network Rail are still seeking to make our members poorer when we have won in some cases double what they are offering, with other rail operators.
‘The train operating companies remain stubborn and are refusing to make any new offer which deals with job security and pay.
‘Strike action is the only course open to us to make both the rail industry and government understand that this dispute will continue for as long as it takes, until we get a negotiated settlement.’
Members of the RMT at train companies and Network Rail will walk out for 24 hours on July 27.
The union remains open for further talks and The Guardian reported that although the government has said it is following negotiations closely, it can’t get involved due to it not being the direct employer. Let’s hope an agreement is reached before Glastonbury 2023, right?
To keep up to date with the strikes, check out the RMT’s website.
In more transport-related news, here’s the airline that’s most likely to cancel your flight this summer.
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