UK rail workers vote for new strike on July 27 over pay
Workers to stage another one-day strike as part of a dispute over pay, jobs and work conditions
13 July 2022 - 19:18
by William James and Farouq Suleiman
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Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union at Parliament Square in London, Britain, June 18 2022. Picture: HENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERS
London — Workers at British rail operators and Network Rail will strike on July 27 following a “paltry” pay offer, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RTM) workers union said on Wednesday.
In June, Britain’s rail network was brought close to a standstill as tens of thousands of rail workers walked out in what unions said was the biggest rail strike in 30 years.
The RMT said Network Rail, the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the rail network in Britain, had made an offer of 4%, followed by a possible 4% the following year dependent on staff accepting changes to their terms and conditions.
“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,” RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said in statement.
“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.”
Earlier this week, British rail and transport workers from two other unions also voted in favour of strike action as the threat of more disruption continues to loom across transport network.
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association have not yet announced proposed dates for their industrial action.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
UK rail workers vote for new strike on July 27 over pay
Workers to stage another one-day strike as part of a dispute over pay, jobs and work conditions
London — Workers at British rail operators and Network Rail will strike on July 27 following a “paltry” pay offer, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RTM) workers union said on Wednesday.
In June, Britain’s rail network was brought close to a standstill as tens of thousands of rail workers walked out in what unions said was the biggest rail strike in 30 years.
The RMT said Network Rail, the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the rail network in Britain, had made an offer of 4%, followed by a possible 4% the following year dependent on staff accepting changes to their terms and conditions.
“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,” RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said in statement.
“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.”
Earlier this week, British rail and transport workers from two other unions also voted in favour of strike action as the threat of more disruption continues to loom across transport network.
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association have not yet announced proposed dates for their industrial action.
Reuters
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