Further rail strikes have been announced for 18 and 20 August by Network Rail employees over pay and working conditions, adding to walkouts planned at the end of this month.
The RMT Union, which represents 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train companies, confirmed late yesterday that strikes would go ahead next month unless an agreement could be made over the dispute.
This is on top of a 24-hour strike by the RMT on 27 July and another on 30 July announced yesterday by train drivers represented by trade union Aslef.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The rail industry and the government need to understand that this dispute will not simply vanish.
"They need to get serious about providing an offer on pay which helps deal with the cost-of-living crisis, job security for our members and provides good conditions at work.
"We remain open for talks, but we will continue our campaign until we reach a negotiated settlement."
“Trade unionists are greedy for wanting a pay rise? The profits of the top FTSE companies have gone up 73% since 2019. When are we going to ask if they’re greedy?”
- @RMTunion’s Eddie Dempsey pic.twitter.com/mnGYSx2kAm
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) July 14, 2022
As well as Network Rail, the companies involved in the RMT strikes are: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, c2c, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway (run by FirstGroup), Go-Ahead Group's Govia Thameslink (including Gatwick Express), LNER, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains.