Thousands of rail workers across the country will stage a fresh wave of industrial action amid a long-running dispute over pay and jobs.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which represents 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operators, will stage a nationwide strike on March 16, the first of four upcoming strike dates. It comes after the RMT rejected employer offers as "they did not meet the needs of members on pay, job security or working conditions".
The strike action being undertaken by union members will include an overtime ban in a bid to stagger maintenance and operations work. The union has indicated that it is seeking an unconditional offer from rail operators and Network Rail.
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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 government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies. However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban.
"Ministers cannot continue to sit on their hands hoping this dispute will go away as our members are fully prepared to fight tooth and nail for a negotiated settlement in the months ahead."
Full list of strike dates announced
According to the RMT, workers will go on strike against 14 train operating companies on the following days:
- Thursday, March 16
- Saturday, March 18
- Thursday, March 30
- Saturday, April 1
Meanwhile, Network Rail members will go on strike between 2am on March 16 and 1.59 am on March 17.
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