Thousands of railroad workers are scheduled to go on strike for three days later this month in the largest industrial crackdown since 1989, according to the RMT union.
He said more than 50,000 of his Network Rail members and 13 UK train operators would leave on June 21, 23 and 25 after voting ended last month.
The move threatens to wreak havoc not only on travelers that week, with London about to suffer a double blow, as there is also a tube strike scheduled for June 21, but also the movement of vital goods.
There are three issues at the center of the dispute for the union: pay, compulsory dismissals and security issues.
The dispute stems from government demands for savings in a network that was backed by the taxpayer worth £ 16 billion when the number of passengers sank during the COVID crisis.
RMT Secretary-General Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have been treated terribly, and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the government-backed railway industry has not taken its concerns seriously. .
“We have a crisis in the cost of living, and it is unacceptable for the railways to lose their jobs or face another year of wage freeze when inflation is at 11.1% and rising.
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10:48 May 29: Rail strike action “very likely”
“Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action that will shut down the rail system.
“Railway companies are making at least £ 500 million a year in profits, while fat cat railway chiefs have received millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This injustice is fueling the anger of our members and their determination to reach a fair deal.
“RMT is open to meaningful negotiations with railway chiefs and ministers, but they will have to come up with new proposals to avoid months of disruption to our railways.”
The government said last month that contingency plans were being put in place to mitigate the impact of any strike, but freight services, to maintain the flow of goods, should be prioritized over passenger services.
The impending industrial action will be seen as an important test of the government of Boris Johnson, as it aims to focus on the problems facing the country, such as dealing with the crisis of the cost of living, as a result of the slim victory of the prime minister in Monday’s confidence vote. among Conservative MPs.
The disruption caused by the London Underground dispute has also coincided with problems for air passengers, as airports and airlines are facing staff shortages that have forced them to cancel flights and severe delays.
Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines maintained hope that an agreement could be reached to avoid strikes.
“We continue to meet with our unions to discuss their wage concerns and are doing everything we can to prevent a rail strike,” it said in a statement.
“We know that the cost of living has increased and we want to increase the salary in our town, but the RMT must recognize that we are a public body and any salary increase must be affordable for taxpayers.
“Travel habits have changed forever and the railways need to change as well. We can’t wait to get more of our fair share of public funds, so we need to modernize our industry to put it on a solid financial footing for In the future, failure to modernize will only lead to a decline in industry and more long – term job losses.
“There are two weeks left before the first strike is planned. We will take this time to continue talking to our unions and, with the commitment and common sense of both parties, we hope to find a solution and avoid the damage that the strike would cause to all. involved “.