Millions of rail passengers across the UK are facing new disruptions on Thursday after the RMT union accused the government of “disrupting” negotiations.
Rail services have been severely disrupted this week after some 40,000 union members working for Network Rail and 13 train operators voted in favor of another departure due to jobs, pay and conditions.
Talks took place between the union and industry leaders on Wednesday in a bid to overcome the stalemate, but ended without an agreement.
Mick Lynch, RMT’s secretary general, said: “Grant Shaps has failed these negotiations by not allowing Network Rail to withdraw its letter, which threatens to cut 2,900 of our members.
“Until the government releases the shackles of Network Rail and the companies operating the trains, it will not be possible to reach a negotiated agreement.
He added: “We will continue with our industrial campaign until we reach an agreed agreement that provides job security and an increase in our members’ pay, which is tackling the escalating cost of living crisis.
Only 60 percent of trains run on Wednesday, and some operators will terminate services earlier than normal before the next round of operations.
The third and final strike of the week is scheduled for Saturday.
However, as a result of a breakthrough, members of the Merseyrail Transport Workers’ Association adopted a pay proposal that, according to union leaders, cost 7.1 percent.
Secretary-General Manuel Cortes described it as a “reasonable result of a reasonable offer”.
A survey of more than 2,300 people at Savanta ComRes found that more than half (58%) thought industrial action was justified.
Passengers at Euston Station in London
(PA)
A spokesman for the transport ministry said railway reform was “desperately needed”.
The spokesman said: “Unions have shut down large parts of the railway network, hitting local businesses and unfairly cutting people off from hospitals, schools and jobs.
“However, early data show that, unlike in the past, many people now have the opportunity to work from home, so we have not seen a rush on the roads, as traffic instead went online, which means that unions do not have the full an impact they may have hoped for. “
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