Train commuters in the UK will experience a third one-day rail strike on Saturday after talks between the industry’s infrastructure owner and the RMT union failed to achieve a breakthrough. .
Negotiations on wages and working conditions continued on Friday between RMT and Network Rail but failed to reach an agreement.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Friday night urged the RMT to “stop Saturday’s strike now”. He said in a tweet that the union was “harming the lives of the hard-working people every day they claim to represent”.
Train companies said they would, as well as strikes on Tuesday and Thursday, run a “significantly” reduced schedule on Saturday with only 20% of service running. They warn the public to use trains only “if necessary”.
Three days of action represents biggest strike for decades on the British rail network, when RMT members protested against wage increases that were significantly below inflation and changed working methods to increase productivity, which could lead to overcapacity Obligatory.
At the heart of the matter is the conflict between RMT and Network Rail over modernizing work practices in the network’s maintenance unit, which employs 10,000 workers.
Network Rail has argued that outdated methods need to be modernized to save costs, which could be used to fund a raise above the proposed 3% pay rise.
It said it would consult on a modernization plan from early July, including about 1,800 job cuts, many of which are expected through voluntary redundancy.
However, RMT is awaiting written commitment from Network Rail that it will not implement the required redundancy measures, people familiar with the situation said. The RMT is also driving a 7% wage increase, as inflation has hit 9.1%.
Mick Lynch, General Secretary of RMT, said: “What we cannot accept is that thousands of railway workers are thrown into piles of paper after being hailed as heroes during Covid. “RMT will continue its industrial campaign until a negotiated agreement is reached.”
Other industrial action could come in July as another rail union, the TSSA, is voting for members on potential strikes that could happen on July 13.
Saturday’s strike is expected to affect the entertainment and travel industry, as fewer passengers will use the network.
Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality’s chief executive, said: “It’s the start of the holiday season, so it’s going to have an impact on travellers. “People will probably cancel their plans rather than find a way to deal with the strike. The really big impact, however, is on consumer confidence. “
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail and passenger transport companies, said trains would run only from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and warned that parts of the country would be free of outbreaks. any service. It added that some disruption was “still expected” on Sunday.
“We are very disappointed that the RMT management has decided to continue the strike tomorrow and the union leadership has chosen to take action that will severely inconvenience millions of people who had plans for the weekend, “Steve Montgomery, president of the Rail Delivery Group.
Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “We remain at the table and ready for negotiations, day or night, and will do everything we can to avoid further disruption to passengers. ours.”
