The RMT Union has announced that rail workers will go on strike on 15th and 17th September in a dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions.
40,000 members from Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trainsa and Govia Thameslink Railway (including Gatwick Express) are taking part.
Separate disputes will also see Hull Trains and Arriva Rail London members go on strike as well on the 15th September.
The union says that negotiations between the industry and the union are ongoing, but no new offers have been made.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.
“Network Rail and the train operating companies have shown little interest this past few weeks in offering our members anything new in order for us to be able to come to a negotiated settlement.
“Grant Shapps continues his dereliction of duty by staying in his bunker and shackling the rail industry from making a deal with us.
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.”
Responses
Yes, my journey to Derby will be fouled up (putting it politely) by one of these strikes. These strikers will not only finish up being reviled but will hasten a recession which will make them much worse off in the long run.