Prepare strike motion ‘strong’ and can proceed till authorities ‘unblocks’ pay dispute, says RMT union boss Mick Lynch

Striking rail employees have vowed to proceed strolling out till the federal government “unblocks” their pay dispute on the second day in a row of cancellations.

There are 14 rail operators affected by strike motion by the RMT union on Saturday – the day of the Eurovision finale in Liverpool – after a separate walkout by prepare drivers from ASLEF on Friday.

Both strikes have induced widespread cancellations and present no indicators of stopping after the RMT rejected a 9% pay improve.

ASLEF, which was supplied an 8% improve over two years, has strikes deliberate till 3 June – the day of the FA Cup Final.

After rejecting the latest provide, RMT basic secretary Mick Lynch referred to as for a particular summit of unions, prepare operators and the federal government in a letter to Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

He advised Sky News rail bosses need unions to name off any remaining strikes earlier than negotiating any additional – however their industrial motion is “solid” and “will be as long as this campaign goes on”.

“What they want us to do is call off the dispute and then go into another set of negotiations without the leverage on the table – and we simply can’t do that,” he mentioned on Saturday. “You don’t disarm yourself half-way through a campaign.

“It’s up to the government to unblock this dispute because they are the ones who have the final say on what is proposed at the table.

“In their contracts with these firms they stipulate what the negotiating place is and what the affords are.”

Union didn’t put newest provide to its members

Paul Gentleman, spokesperson for Great Western Railway, whose members are on strike at present, mentioned he is aware of of RMT members pleased with the newest provide – however the RMT has not given members an opportunity to vote on it.

Describing it as “disappointing” and the dispute as “toxic”, he advised Sky News a separate summit is pointless as “existing methods” might “provide the solution”.

Labour’s shadow employment secretary Alison McGovern added that fixed prepare strikes are hindering the UK’s financial restoration.

Read extra:
Rail passengers and Eurovision followers face vital disruption in recent strikes
Who is taking industrial motion in 2023 and when?

But Mr Lynch mentioned the union didn’t put the provide out for poll as a result of it didn’t sustain with the price of residing disaster and inflationary pressures.

“It’s not acceptable. It doesn’t meet the demands in the dispute,” he mentioned.

It comes after the federal government was pressured to carry the operator TransPennine Express beneath its management following a yr of widespread delays and cancellations.

TransPennine, which was additionally on strike on Saturday – and covers the north of England and a small a part of Scotland, has been badly affected by ASLEF driver strikes.

Mr Harper mentioned his division had “played our part but ASLEF now need to play theirs” by calling off additional strikes.

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Merseyrail, which runs the trains out of Liverpool, was not on strike on Saturday, with Eurovision organisers insisting journey to the town for the ultimate wouldn’t be disrupted.

But these not already in Liverpool for the ultimate will probably be unable to get there in the event that they have been counting on connecting companies run by: Avanti West Coast; c2c; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Gatwick Express; Great Northern; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; Heathrow Express; Island Line; LNER; London Northwestern Railway; Southeastern; Southern; Stansted Express; Thameslink; TransPennine Express; or West Midlands Railway.