RMT holding industrial action on train and tube services
Mick Lynch (second from left) takes part in an RMT demonstration. Picture: RMT
The RMT Union has announced it is to hold a new round of strikes which will hit both train and tube services for a full week.
There is to be industrial action on London Underground and London Overground on Thursday 3 November which it is anticipated will have a severe impact on services.
On the same day, strikes are taking place at 14 train operating companies which, it is understood, includes Great Western and South Western Railway. There are two further days of strikes on train services on 5 and 7 November and, because there is always an additional impact on the day following a strike, there will be some disruption every day from 3 to 8 November.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, "Throughout this whole dispute, the Rail Delivery Group has been completely unreasonable by not offering our members any deal on pay, conditions and job security.
"Some of our members on the train operating companies are some of the lowest paid on the railways.
"This stands in stark contrast to rail operating company bosses making millions of pounds in profit.
"We remain open to meaningful talks, but we are steadfast in our industrial campaign to see a negotiated settlement for all our members in this dispute."
Network Rail denies this is the case and claims it has made an improved offer by extending the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies by a further year to January 2025.
Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said, "Unfortunately, the leadership of the RMT seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer."
He added that the rail industry had a £2 billion shortfall in its budget due to falling passenger numbers since the pandemic. Network Rail has offered an 8% pay rise in a two year deal.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said of the RMT, "Given their recent call for 'intense negotiations' we had hoped they would give our staff and customers a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months."
"Instead of inflicting more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we ask the RMT to recognise the very real financial challenge the railway faces, and work with us towards a fair deal that both offers a pay rise and includes the long overdue changes we need to make to improve services for our customers."
The RMT is reballoting its members on strike action which, if the vote is in favour, will give it the authority to continue holding strikes through to next Spring.
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October 20, 2022