By Fresh talks needed to avoid rail chaos says a major union
Rail firms and a major representative union have said they wish to negotiate, to avoid strikes that could see major disruption in June.
The strikes are taking place on 21, 23, and 25 June and are expected to involve tens of thousands of rail workers.
The RMT union said rail firms had made no “concrete proposals” regarding pay and job security in discussions that have taken place so far.
The Rail Delivery Group said both sides “need to sit down and talk”.
The BBC reported that some Northern lines would be affected by the strikes, and the strikes would be felt nationwide.
The strikes are expected to affect thousands of rail passengers and fall during music and sporting events including the Glastonbury Festival and an England cricket test against New Zealand.
It is reportedly set to be the “biggest rail strike in modern history” as more than 40,000 staff from Network Rail and 13 train operators are expected to take part.
A No 10 source called the strike plans “selfish” and “thoroughly irresponsible”, saying they would inflict “pain and economic disruption on their fellow citizens in really tough times”.
The source added that the government was determined to move forward with making the railways “more efficient”.
Mick Lynch, secretary-general of the RMT union, responded saying they were “experts at being selfish and irresponsible”.
He told the BBC his members needed a pay deal, job security, and “decent terms and conditions”.
“The government has the key to unlock that,” he added.
Steve Montgomery, of the Rail Delivery Group, said the industry body was “extremely disappointed” with the prospect of strike action. “It’s really important we ask RMT to get back round the table,” he said.
He referenced the industry had received £16bn in subsidies over the pandemic, but that amount and level could not continue.
“We have to look at how we can reform,” he said. “We’ve not said ‘we’re not going to give staff a pay increase’, but we need to sit down and talk with RMT on how we can move reform forward to make it fair for everybody.”
“They are ripping off the passenger, they are ripping off the taxpayer. The government needs to fund the railway properly, and we need the companies to give up some of their profits to give our members a pay rise,” he added.
