Home » UK Employment news » England’s rail strikes set to extend for six months after union vote
https://www.whatjobs.com/news/united-kingdom/uk-employment-news/englands-rail-strikes-set-to-extend-for-six-months-after-union-vote
Rail workers at 14 English train operating companies have voted overwhelmingly to continue potential strikes for another six months.
Over 20,000 union members participated in the vote.
A resounding 90 percent supported the RMT union's mandate for further strike action, with a turnout of 64 percent.
Read More: London Underground Strikes Over Job Cuts Called Off
Mick Lynch, the RMT general secretary, said the members had given the union “a decisive mandate for future industrial action.”
The ongoing dispute concerns issues on jobs, pay, and working conditions.
The first nationwide strikes on the UK railway in decades were initiated in June 2022.
It led to more than 20 days of strike action by RMT rail workers.
Read More: Rail Strikes Cause Widespread Travel Chaos In The UK
Lynch added: “This ringing endorsement of RMT’s approach to the dispute now means we have industrial leverage to secure an improved offer.
“The government, who controls this dispute through a contractual mandate over the train operating companies, must now allow the Rail Delivery Group to put forward a revised offer so we can work towards reaching a settlement.
“However, if no new offer is forthcoming we will once again take strike action in defence of our members’ livelihoods.”
Under union law, the RMT has surpassed the threshold of at least 40 percent of all members at each company voting in favor, marking its fourth consecutive national rail ballot.
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In early 2023, the Rail Delivery Group extended a two-year, 9 percent deal to train staff in the RMT, which was ultimately rejected by the union.
The group has indicated that it won’t increase the offer and has encouraged the union to put the proposal to a full ballot.
The recent strike by Aslef train drivers that disrupted services across England coincided with the Conservative party conference.
They also voted overwhelmingly to continue industrial action in ballots that concluded in June.
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