UK rail workers will strike between Christmas Eve and 27 December in what marks an intensification of a long running dispute over pay and conditions.
Members from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will vote on a pay offer, with union bosses recommending they reject it, effectively ending hopes of preventing strikes on 13-14, 16-17 December and in early January.
The offer of a 5% pay rise for this year and another 4% from January was described as “not acceptable” by the RMT, with leader Mick Lynch telling media that changes to working conditions was the “primary issue”.
On Monday the RMT announced strikes over Christmas, in a move that has been criticised by the government and businesses for its potential impact on trading during the period.
Minister Nick Gibb suggested the union was “holding to country to ransom,” amid government attempts to facilitate talks between rail operators and unions, including by implementing a mandate on the former to make proposals.
Office for National Statistics data outlined that 93% of hospitality businesses were concerned about how the strikes would affect Christmas operations prior to the new action being announced.
“Waves of industrial action are having a crippling effect on British businesses and problems are set to pile up further as fresh strikes hit the UK in December,” said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter, citing the data.
Responding to outside pressure, RMT boss Mick Lynch said: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues, but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members.”
While National Rail estimated a £300mln loss of revenue from the 11 days of strike action since June, ONS figures outlined one in eight UK businesses had been affected by the walkouts.
Strikes look set to affect other sectors during the festive period too, with over 10,000 ambulance workers announcing today that they will walk out on the 21 and 28 December in combined action by three unions.
Citing cuts as the reason for walkouts, the action will see 10 out of 11 of ambulance trusts in England and Wales response to non-life threatening calls affected.