The rail industry's biggest union rejected an offer from train operators over the weekend.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) offered an 8 per cent pay rise and guarantee of no compulsory redundancies before April 2024. However, the offer was rejected within a few hours.
It means that strikes by the Rail, Maritime, and Transport Worker (RMT) union will continue to go underway across the country in the run-up to Christmas, likely causing nationwide delays on the railroad at a period when travel demands are at some of their highest. Strike dates will take place throughout the second week of December and will also include an overtime ban across the Christmas period.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We have rejected this offer as it does not meet any of our criteria for securing a settlement on long-term job security, a decent pay rise and protecting working conditions. The RDG and Department of Transport, who sets their mandate, both knew this offer would not be acceptable to RMT members.
“If this plan was implemented, it would not only mean the loss of thousands of jobs but the use of unsafe practices such as DOO and would leave our railways chronically understaffed."
A spokesperson from the RDG said: "We urge the RMT leadership to put this offer to its membership and remove the threat of a month of industrial action over Christmas that will upset the travel plans of millions and cause real hardship for businesses which depend on Christmas custom. Instead, we urge the RMT to move forward together with us and so we can give our people a pay rise and deliver an improved railway with a sustainable, long-term future for those who work on it.”
Rail strike dates in December
The strike dates for RMT union members will take place on:
- Tuesday, December 13 and Wednesday, December 14 (48-hour)
- Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17 (48-hour)
- Saturday, December 24, 6pm, until Tuesday, December 27, 6am (60-hour)
An overtime ban will also be observed by members nationwide from December 18 to January 2.
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