The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) has issued an update about its dispute with Train Operating Companies, confirming that although it suspended planned strike action, it will resume strikes if it does not receive a better offer from the employers.
The union has had several meetings with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) since suspending strike action on the fourteen train operators, following a proposal made to the union on 22 March.
These meetings were to further discuss the issues of the dispute, in particular the process of workforce reform and the second year of the proposal. However, the employers have not produced a new document.
The union points out that its members are “rightly frustrated” by this, and that “the Tory government is once again absent when it comes to giving the RDG the mandate to produce a new document.” The RDG has agreed to write to RMT, and a further meeting is scheduled for next week.
While negotiations continue, RMT remains in dispute with the train operating companies, and states that “we remain in dispute and resolute in our determination to win a further mandate for strike action in the upcoming re-ballot.” Members are voting again to secure another six-month mandate for industrial action; the ballot closes on 4 May.
It continues, “Be in no doubt, if further strikes are needed, RMT will not hesitate to act to ensure a negotiated settlement on jobs, pay and working conditions.”
RMT's dispute with Network Rail was resolved last month, when members voted to accept the employer's pay offer.
I travelled home from London on an almost empty train yesterday. This is an example of the enormous damage that they have already done. The eventual result of more strikes will be more passengers lost, service cuts and lines closed.
This is cetainly putting me off train travel where possible. I normally use it for work, but am now considering changing to bus, even though it will take me longer to get home on the evenings. I have an upcoming trip that I had booked on the trains, but have now booked coach tickets for. All this unreliability and the strikes is making me a fast enemy of me. Im having a lot of sympathy for Dr Beeching at the moment. Is it time to close down the entire UK rail network? They won’t have to worry about not getting what they want then!
Why is the RMT members ballot taking so long.It will be may soon and not much of the summer left.Guess they don’t care as long as they get want they want, until next strike.
Strike for as long as neccessary to get a satisfactory deal. Reject the insults currently offered.
There won’t be any point having a railway.These people have been given reasonable offer.They want gold plated utopia.Are you prepared to pay your taxes for that ( you pay even if you don’t use railway – unless you are not a taxpayer).
I get why the RMT are striking, however and I don’t disagree with the strikes but, do they realise that by striking they are putting people off rail travel, when they really need more passengers, after covid the passenger numbers are low, but by striking more people will be travelling in buses, taxis or even planes.