Rail users are bitterly divided over the national rail strikes which are due to take place next week.
More than 50,000 Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union workers will walkout as part of three days of industrial action. No Merseyrail trains will run on Tuesday June 21, Thursday, June 23 and Saturday, June 25.
While Merseyrail staff are not taking part in the protests, Network Rail workers - who are in charge of maintenance and signalling, are involved. The ECHO spoke to shoppers, pensioners, employers and employees outside Moorfields train station to find out their thoughts.
READ MORE: Entire Merseyrail network will shut down for three days next week
Corporate professional John McGlory, 39, told the ECHO: “I’m a leader in a business and I think we are more productive working remotely than in the office. The rail and travel strikes have strengthened that argument.
“A colleague by choice works from the office every day but because of the industrial action he’s working from home for the whole of next week. That shows you how everything is changing.
"We were once a business who worked from the office full-time, now a lot of us do one day a week there.
“I come to work for social engagement but the strike is just going to accelerate working from home.” John's work colleague Bernice O’Connor, 43, added: “I get the bus into Liverpool but they are going to be very busy next week. Working parents, for example, are going to have to find different arrangements."
Keith, 59, and Alison, 61, had sympathy with the workers going on strike. The couple told the ECHO: “We are not affected by the strikes but we do have sympathy over the pay and conditions.
"On the other hand if the trains were not working we would not have come into Liverpool today. If they are not running on Saturday then the city's nightlife will be badly affected. "
Public sector worker Tom Lloyd passionately defended the strikers. He said: “I support them even though I will be affected by it [the industrial action]. I’ve had a 0% pay rise over the last year.
“People need to understand these people got us from A to B during Covid. Bus drivers from Transport for London died over the pandemic, they need our support.”
Pensioners Chris, 75, and Monica Chapman, 72 were far more scathing of RMT’s decision to disrupt train journeys . They said: “The drivers are extremely well paid, we do have sympathy with them but people out there are really struggling.
“The strike adds pressure on working class people. We’ve all been through Covid, people have lost their homes, bills are becoming more expensive and the cost of petrol has increased.”
Another passenger said: “I work all over the north and now heavily rely on my car. I just want [the trains] to be more reliable so I can use them.”
What do you think about next week's strikes? Have your say in the comments below.
