Network Rail leaders say they plan to hold more talks with union leaders today in a last-ditch attempt to avert the largest rail strike for more than three decades.
More than 40,000 railway workers are due to leave on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Only about half of the UK rail network will be open on strike days with very limited service on open lines.
A Network Rail source said: “We are in the room talking and there has been some movement. The chances are slim, but there is some hope.”
In his strongest remarks so far on the impending strike action, Labor leader Keir Starmer will say the strikes should not continue. He was to use a speech at a conference on Sunday to accuse ministers of “pouring petrol on the fire” to fuel a divisive dispute.
Network Rail has advanced talks scheduled to continue at its London headquarters on Sunday afternoon with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT). However, union leaders said on Saturday that there was almost no chance of a last-minute breakthrough in talks on wages, jobs and conditions.
Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, said “no viable agreements had been reached” and that the strikes would continue. He said thousands of jobs were being cut and workers were facing wage increases below inflation.
Network Rail has offered a 2% pay rise, back in January, plus two more increases during the year of 0.5% each related to productivity and efficiency gains. Union negotiators want wage increases to match inflation.
Tim Shoveller, chief negotiator for Network Rail, said: “I take it seriously to try to find a solution and find a compromise that offers our people a decent pay raise, but it has to be affordable for taxpayers and fare payers.
“Our offers so far have been rejected, with union demands far from affordable. We will continue to talk and try to find a way to overcome and avoid this unnecessary and harmful strike. “
The strike involved Network Rail staff and 13 train companies in the largest network conflict since 1989.
Even if a last-minute deal was agreed on Network Rail workers, railway company staff would continue to strike. There will also be a 24-hour strike on the London Underground on Tuesday. There will be no passenger services at stations across the UK if strikes continue, including Penzance, Bournemouth, Hastings, Holyhead, Blackpool and Hull. The routes that are open will operate with a very limited service from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm.
Train companies recommend travelers to travel only if necessary, and most travelers can work from home on strike days.
Attendees at the Glastonbury festival are among those most likely to be affected. Photography: Rob Stothard / Getty Images
With good weather forecast for many areas this week, the action is scheduled to interrupt several summer events, such as the Glastonbury Festival, the British Athletics Championships in Manchester and the third Test match between England and England. New Zealand to Headingley, Leeds.
The UK hospitality industry group warned on Saturday that rail strikes would cost the tourism, leisure and theater industries more than £ 1bn.
Kate Nicholls, executive director of the UK Hospitality industry group, told Times Radio that tourism and leisure businesses that were already fragile after the pandemic blockades would be “very successful”.
Some A-level and GCSE exams are held on the days of the action. The Department of Education has said it did not expect any rescheduling of any exams due to the action and advised students and teachers traveling by train to consider alternative travel options.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said the government had repeatedly urged the RMT to resolve the dispute at the negotiating table. He said on Saturday: “Unfortunately, they have ignored these requests, and now we are on the verge of a major disruption that will cause misery to people across the country.
“Many people who don’t get paid if they can’t go to work face losing money at a time they just can’t afford.
“The RMT is punishing millions of innocent people, instead of calmly discussing the sensible and necessary reforms we need to make to protect our rail network.”
RMT chiefs have to negotiate with heads of Network Rail and train companies over payment agreements, but say the Treasury is “pointing.” Last week, Shapps rejected a call to meet with union leaders, saying the talks were being conducted correctly by employers.
The Observer understands that Network Rail has received a mandate and a negotiating framework from the government. Once any agreement is reached, a similar mandate is likely to be given to the train companies.
Starmer is to use a speech at the annual Local Government Labor Association conference in Coventry to accuse ministers of preferring to use strike action for political attacks, effectively encouraging them to move forward.
“Businesses will struggle with freight transportation. School exams will be hard to come by. Missed hospital appointments,” Starmer will say. “It simply came to our notice then. But here’s the truth. Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps want the strikes to continue. They want the country to stop in order to feed off the division.
“Instead of spending their time this week around the negotiating table, they are designing attack announcements. Instead of adult conversations to get the fire out of the situation, they are throwing gasoline on the fire. Instead of gathering the people in the national interest, they are feeding the division in their political interest. “
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the railway industry, says the government has pledged more than £ 16bn to keep the railways running during the pandemic and reforms were required to attract passengers back to the network.
An RDG spokesman said: “No one wins in the event of a strike. so passengers should plan their trips carefully and check train schedules. “
What sectors are likely to be affected by the strike?
Transportation
A second railway union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, has announced the vote of 6,000 Network Rail employees for an industrial action for a pay rise to reflect the cost of living crisis. If the vote is in favor, the strike could take place on Monday 25 July, the week the Commonwealth Games begin in Birmingham.
Local Government
The three local government unions representing 1.4 million municipal workers have submitted a joint submission to the local government of wage increases at the rate of the retail price index, currently at 11.1% or a wage increase of 2,000 £, whichever is greater.
Officials
The Public and Trade Services Union, the largest civil service union, is scheduled to vote on its members on industrial action later this year on 2022-23 salary proposals. A national salary increase of 10% is requested. Teachers
The National Education Union, which represents 460,000 members, has pledged to vote during the summer or fall term if it fails to raise teacher salaries in general by at least 8%.
Medical staff
Junior doctors in England say their salary has fallen by 22% in real teams since 2008-09. The British Medical Association’s doctors ‘union says it will vote on industrial action in early 2023 at the latest if the demand to restore young doctors’ salaries is not met. The Royal College of Nursing is asking for a salary reward for nurses of 5% above inflation, but the government has asked to limit any salary increase for 2022-23 to 3%.
Lawyers
The results of a vote of 2,400 criminal lawyers will be announced on strike tomorrow. Criminal trials could be halted with possible casualties starting Monday, June 27th.