Government calls on union leaders to allow members to vote on pay offers

Rail strikes extended for another six months

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have voted to extend rail strikes for another six months.

The union said that 89.9% of its members voted in favor of the strike action, on a turnout of 63.6%.

Commuters to face more misery

The strike action will add to the misery of commuters, who have already faced three days of strikes this month. The RMT’s dispute with the train companies is over pay, jobs and conditions.

RMT union leaders accused of wrecking their own industry

Earlier this year, rail union barons were accused of wrecking their own industry as it emerged strikes will likely cost the railways £1billion this year.

The industry analysis estimates the sector has lost £30million for each of the more than 30 national strike days held by the RMT and Aslef in England over the last year.

Government calls on union leaders to allow members to vote on pay offers

The Government has called on union leaders to allow their members to vote on pay offers. A Government source said:

“Ministers have facilitated fair and reasonable pay offers tied to reform which would secure the future of the rail industry.

Yet union leaders continue to block their members from having a vote on these offers and… seem hellbent on continuing to strike, doing huge damage to their own industry and driving a generation of passengers away from the railways.”

Conclusion

The RMT union’s decision to extend rail strikes for another six months is likely to cause further disruption to commuters and businesses.

The Government has called on union leaders to allow their members to vote on pay offers, but it remains to be seen whether this will happen.