Trade union leaders have confirmed that strikes on rail and subway strikes will continue next week after talks failed to resolve a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The three 24-hour strikes of 40,000 members of the rail, sea and transport unions will cause a break of almost a week.
RMT said it had held high-level discussions with Network Rail, train operators and the London Underground in recent weeks.
His secretary-general, Mick Lynch, said: “Despite the best efforts of our negotiators, no viable solutions to the dispute have been reached.
He confirmed that strikes on Network Rail and 13 train operators will continue next week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, as well as in the London Underground on Tuesday.
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A special schedule will be in force from June 20 to 26. Several operators have already told passengers not to try to travel on strike days.
Lynch said: “It must be reiterated that the source of this controversy is the Tory government’s decision to cut £ 4 billion in funding from our transport systems, £ 2 billion from national railways and £ 2 billion from transport to London.
As a result of these austerity savings in transport imposed by the government, employers have decided to ravage the rail pension scheme and the London Transport scheme by reducing benefits, forcing employees to work longer and poorer. retirement while paying increased contributions. ”
He said thousands of jobs were being cut on rail networks and that workers were facing rising wages below inflation.
“In the face of this massive attack on our people, the RMT cannot be passive,” he said. “So today, after hearing the reports of the discussions, we confirm that the strikes planned for June 21, 23 and 25 will take place.
“We want a transport system that works for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment, not for personal gain. We call on the entire labor movement and workers to come together in support of RMT and our members in this struggle.
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: “No one wins in the event of a strike. Next week’s action will affect the millions of people who use the train every day, including key workers, students with exams, those who can’t work from home, holidaymakers and people attending important business and leisure events.
“When working with Network Rail, our plan is to maintain as many services as possible, but significant disruptions will be inevitable and some parts of the network will be out of service, so passengers should plan their trips carefully and check train times.”
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