Some 40,000 members of the Network Rail, Maritime and Transport Association (RMT) and 13 railway companies will leave all Tuesday, as well as Thursday and Saturday in a pay, job and condition dispute. Only one in five trains will run on strike days, mostly on main lines, and then only for about 11 hours. The Network Rail has warned that the labor action will cause a six-day break due to the negative effects on services in the intermediate days. Ahead of Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, the prime minister will argue that the unions are “hurting the very people they claim to be helping” and will call for a “reasonable compromise”. “Rishi Sunak DNA” on all issues, union says, as strike talks fail – rail strikes last There will also be a strike in the London Underground on Tuesday by members of the RMT and Unite unions, in a separate series that will cause great upset in the London Underground. Talks on preventing the railway strike lasted until Monday afternoon, but remained unresolved – with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress. The RMT union is demanding a 7% pay rise, which is lower than inflation but higher than what employers offer. RMT Secretary-General Mick Leeds said the dispute could last for months, adding: “It is clear that the Tory government, after cutting 4 4 billion in funding from the National Rail and Transport for London, is now actively prevent a settlement of this dispute. “Railway companies have now proposed wage rates that are well below the relevant inflation rates, in addition to the wage freeze of recent years. “At the behest of the government, companies are also seeking to implement thousands of job cuts and have not provided any guarantees against mandatory redundancies.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:28 Railway strikes cause “misery” The prime minister is expected to accuse the unions of “expelling migrants who ultimately support the work of railway workers” while hitting businesses across the country. He will say: “Extremely high wage demands will also make it incredibly difficult to end the current challenges facing families around the world with rising living costs. “Now is the time to come to a sensible compromise for the good of the British people and the railway workforce.” Read more: COVID Legacy Weakens Rail Strike Cases Girl Plans Over Four Hours Travel to Level A Exams Downing Street said the ministers at Tuesday’s meeting would discuss the railway strikes as well as the harsh economic climate facing the country. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister are expected to argue that wage discipline and restraint are important in managing downward inflationary pressures. “We have a responsibility to tackle inflation and stop it from becoming entrenched,” he said. “To do this, we must ensure that wage arrangements are reasonable and do not try to match inflation and therefore raise prices as the cost of goods and services increases to accommodate wage increases.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:33 Reaction to railway strikes Speaking before the meeting, Mr Johnson said: “It is right to reward hard-working public sector employees with a pay rise, but it must be proportionate and balanced. “Maintaining higher levels of inflation would have a much greater impact on people’s pay packages in the long run, destroying savings and extending the difficulties we face for a longer period of time.”
