The UK government and rail industry leaders have warned of “disastrous” consequences after unionised railway workers voted overwhelmingly to strike, threatening massive disruption to the network in the coming weeks.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) backed launching a campaign of industrial action over jobs, pay, and conditions. Among the over 40,000 RMT members balloted, 71 percent took part in the vote with 89 percent voting in favour of strike action and 11 percent voting against.
The union has previously claimed that a yes vote would lead to “the biggest rail strike in modern history.”
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said on Tuesday, when the ballot closed, “Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security, and no compulsory redundancies.”
He said the union will now discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June, but urged ministers to “encourage the employers to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a reasonable settlement with the RMT.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson called the RMT’s decision to strike “hugely disappointing and premature.”
“Taxpayers across the country contributed £16 billion [$20 billion] to keep our railways running throughout the pandemic while ensuring not a single worker lost their job.
“The railway is still on life support, with passenger numbers 25 percent down, and anything that drives away even more of them risks killing services and jobs. Train travel for millions more people is now a choice, not a necessity. Strikes stop our customers choosing rail, and they might never return.”
Network Rail, which manages most of the UK’s railway infrastructure, called on the RMT to come to the negotiating table to avoid “damaging” strike action.
Chief Executive Andrew Haines said: “Any industrial action now would be disastrous for our industry’s recovery and would hugely impact vital supply and freight chains. It would also serve to undermine our collective ability to afford the pay increases we want to make.”
Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group which represents rail firms, said, “It is not fair to ask taxpayers to continue to shoulder the burden when there are other vital services that need public support.”
“Nobody wins when industrial action threatens to disrupt the lives and livelihoods of passengers and businesses, and puts the industry’s recovery at risk,” he added.
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