Mick Lynch said members were “dug in” for a long battle
(Picture: PA)Passengers were today warned that national rail strikes could continue for a “very long time” as unions brought the network to a near-standstill for the sixth time this summer.
Action by the RMT and TSSA unions saw an estimated 20,000 Network Rail staff and thousands of workers at 14 rail companies walk out in the dispute over pay and working conditions.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, who joined a picket line outside Euston station, said a “massive gap” remained between the union’s demands and the offer from Network Rail. He said members were “dug in” for a long battle.
Asked how long the strike action could last, he told the Standard: “We don’t have a time limit. At the moment, there isn’t an end date, and we will consider what we have got to do next week following this phase of action and further discussion with the rail companies.”
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “It could go on a very long time. If we were to offer more money, it would come with the expense of higher fares or higher taxation or fewer jobs. I don’t think any of those are the right thing to do for Britain’s economy or indeed for the British railway system.”
Only about 20 per cent of services were running across the country, and only between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
By mid-morning at Euston, only seven trains an hour were scheduled to depart and the station concourse had barely two dozen passengers looking to travel.
Markku Viherlaiho, 67, waiting at Liverpool Street station, said: “I’m a nurse and we only got offered four per cent so the union have a pretty good deal.”
At Tottenham Hale, Tom Hobbes, 32, was trying to get a reduced Stansted Express service to go on holiday in Turkey. He said: “The strikes just seem to be a never-ending story.”
Today’s action will be followed by another 24-hour Tube strike tomorrow — over the threat to Transport for London staff pensions and working conditions — and another rail strike on Saturday.
No further rail strike dates have yet been announced but the RMT’s six-month mandate permits further walkouts until November without the need to re-ballot members.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today unveiled a “16-point plan” to reduce the threat of strikes. He said minimum service levels would be required on strike days, unions would have to ballot members more regularly before taking action, with a “cooling-off period” introduced to prevent walkouts.
The RMT accused Mr Shapps of “political interference” and “blocking” Network Rail and train firms from striking a deal. Mr Lynch said the Tory leadership election had caused Mr Shapps to seek to appeal to the “hard Right”.
But the Department for Transport said: “It is entirely false to claim the Government is blocking negotiations. We have said from the outset we urge the unions and industry to agree a deal that is fair for railway staff, passengers and taxpayers.”
More trains were running on Thursday than on any previous strike day. But rail firms such as GTR warned passengers to expect a knock-on impact on services on each day following a strike, with fewer services in the morning.
Mr Haines said: “It’s doing less damage than would have been through historically, because a lot of people can work from home. That is good for the individual but for the railway system that is deeply concerning.
“I think that is a long-term threat to the prosperity of the railway network and what we can contribute to the economy.”
The RMT denies the pay offer is worth eight per cent, or 13 per cent for the lowest-paid staff. It said the deal was worth four per cent a year for two years and also included last year, when no pay rise was made.
