Railway workers have overwhelmingly voted in favor of striking a bitter dispute over jobs, wages and conditions, threatening a massive disruption to the network in the coming weeks.
Members of the Network Rail Railway, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and 15 train operators supported the launch of an industrial action campaign.
The union says Network Rail intends to cut at least 2,500 in maintenance, while train company staff have been subjected to wage freezes, threats to jobs and attacks on their terms and conditions.
The government and the railway industry criticized the measure, calling it “very disappointing and premature”.
Here’s what you need to know.
When is the train strike?
Union leaders will now decide when to call strikes, which will paralyze large parts of the network.
RMT said it was the most important support for the industrial action of railway workers since the privatization of the 1990s.
The union will now call for urgent talks with Network Rail and the 15 train companies.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Today’s overwhelming support for railroad workers is a demand for the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no mandatory dismissals.
“Our NEC will now meet to discuss a timetable for the strike action from mid-June, but we sincerely hope that ministers will encourage employers to return to the negotiating table and reach a reasonable agreement with the RMT “.
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How UK trains will be affected
An exit from Network Rail signals will have a significant impact on services, as long as it takes place.
Trains may run only part of the day, such as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and only on major lines.
Services could be reduced by about one-fifth of normal weekday hours.
If the strikes continue, it will cost the railway industry about 30 million a day, according to sources.
The union says Network Rail intends to cut at least 2,500 maintenance jobs as part of a £ 2bn reduction in network spending, while train company staff have been subject to wage freezes despite the inflation spiral.
A total of 71% of voters took part in the vote, with 89% voting in favor of the strike and 11% against.
More than 40,000 RMT members voted in total and the following companies voted in favor of the strike and pre-strike action: Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater England, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, North Trains, Southeast Railroad, Southwest Railroad, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains.
Additional PA reports