Rail union plans for largest industrial action in decades
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously. “Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system.” We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1% and rising RMT general secretary Mick Lynch Mr Lynch added that the union was “open to meaningful negotiations with rail bosses and ministers, but they will need to come up with new proposals to prevent months of disruption on our railways”. Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said the organisation was “doing everything we can” to avoid the strike action. We will use this time to keep talking to our unions and, through compromise and common sense on both sides Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the move as “incredibly disappointing”.