Rail workers at 14 train operators are to strike on May 13, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final, after union leaders rejected a pay offer, the RMT announced.
In a statement, the RMT’s General Secretary Mick Lynch said the offer included a first-year payment of 5 per cent but only if the union terminated its industrial mandate.
The union said discussions would then have to begin without it having any industrial leverage at the negotiating table.
He said: “The RDG have reneged on their original proposals and torpedoed these negotiations.
“No doubt their decision is due to pressure exerted on them by the Tory Government.
“Therefore, we have no alternative but to press ahead with more strike action and continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on pay, conditions and job security.
“We are re-balloting our members and if we beat the draconian anti-trade union laws on turnout, we will have a renewed mandate for action.”
He added: “We will then put on a further programme of strike action to make the employers and the Government, who continue to hold the puppet strings, see sense in this dispute.”
The news follows an earlier announcement by the drivers union Aslef of strikes on May 12 and 31, as well as on June 3, the day of the FA Cup Final.
