Prepare passengers face additional disruption this summer time after members of the RMT rail union voted overwhelmingly for additional strike motion.
A poll of members working throughout 14 prepare working firms “massively reaffirmed a mandate for additional strike motion”, the union mentioned on Thursday, with 90% of votes solid in favour of holding extra strikes over the following six months.
The union’s chief, Mick Lynch, described the outcome as a “de facto referendum” on the dispute with a median turnout of almost 70% in every firm.
“It’s clear from these outcomes that members usually are not ready to just accept a pay provide based mostly on mass job cuts and main assaults on their phrases and circumstances,” Lynch mentioned.
“This sends a transparent message to the employers that the massive anger amongst rail employees could be very actual and they should recognise that truth, face actuality and make improved proposals. They should get across the desk with RMT and negotiate in good religion for a greater deal for rail employees.”
Unions concerned in disputes should reballot their members each six months to legally proceed with industrial motion.
The subsequent 24-hour strike is deliberate for Saturday 13 Could, the day of the Eurovision music contest ultimate.
It follows the breakdown of talks final month. On the time, Lynch mentioned the Rail Supply Group (RDG) had been “pressured” by the federal government to renege on a 9% provide the union had been contemplating for a number of weeks, by making the primary 12 months’s pay deal contingent on withdrawing its mandate for strike motion.
“The RDG is now saying they might solely implement the first-year fee of 5% if the union terminated its industrial mandate – which means no additional strike motion may happen,” Lynch mentioned.
Earlier this week, the transport secretary, Mark Harper, criticised rail unions over the 13 Could strike.
Harper mentioned rail employees ought to work “in solidarity” with Ukrainian railway workers who’ve been killed, as a substitute of “cynically focusing on” Eurovision, which was received by Ukraine final 12 months.
The prepare drivers’ union Aslef can be planning to strike, on 12 Could. It lately rejected a pay provide of 4% a 12 months for 2 years, describing the proposal as risible provided that inflation is at 10%.
Additional drivers’ strikes might be held on 31 Could and three June, the day of the FA Cup ultimate, when many followers might be travelling from north-west England to London to see two Manchester groups play at Wembley.