The signs at the British railway union are on strike. That is a “clear message”, it says. There is great fear of massive disruptions in logistics and traffic.
The members of the British rail union RMT have voted in favor of a strike by a large majority, raising fears of serious traffic disruptions and supply problems.
The employees of the network operator National Rail and 15 railway companies criticize job cuts, working conditions and insufficient wage increases. Employers and the government in London were outraged and warned that the move would jeopardize the recovery from the pandemic. A strike could paralyze parts of the country.
The union, on the other hand, spoke of a clear message and called on the companies to start talks immediately. A timetable for walkouts is now being discussed, which could begin in mid-June, said Mick Lynch, secretary-general of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), on Tuesday evening. “But we sincerely hope that the government will encourage employers to return to the negotiating table and agree a reasonable settlement with the RMT.”
A strike by signal workers at National Rail, for example, would have enormous consequences. Trains could then only run at certain times and on the most important routes. The cost to industry is estimated at £30m (€35m) per day of strike.
The RMT accuses National Rail of wanting to cut at least 2,500 jobs. At the railway companies, employees would suffer from frozen salaries and worsened working conditions.
The employers’ association Rail Delivery Group and the government warned the union not to take hasty steps. Taxpayers have already raised billions to support British railways in the pandemic. A strike also risks that in the future even more customers will switch to other means of transport or stay at home and work in the home office.
