Yesterday, rail union bosses argued that even though employees had already lost hundreds of pounds in salary, they can still afford to go on strike for months.
Mick Lynch, the head of the RMT, said that members are still “totally committed” to striking despite the fact that many had lost an estimated £1,500 during the union’s last four walkouts.
The general secretary of the TSSA, Manuel Cortes, acknowledged that lower-paid employees could need a whip round.
It comes before nationwide 24-hour strikes by RMT employees working for Network Rail and 14 train operators tomorrow and on Saturday.
Only one in five trains will operate as a result of the addition of Network Rail and seven TSSA operators.
On Friday and Sunday, when service levels are at 70% and 85%, respectively, travellers may experience knock-on mayhem.
As the conflict enters its second month, union leaders are anticipated to face increased pressure to reach a settlement.
According to industry insiders, the bitter strike over wage and job security won’t stop until employees can no longer afford to go on strike, similar to the signallers’ walkouts of 1994.
The RMT has previously rejected a Network Rail wage increase offer of 8% that included a promise of no forced layoffs.
For the lowest paid employees, it is worth up to 13%, yet the union has declined to present the offer to the workforce.
In response to a question about whether his members, many of whom make salaries below the national average, could afford to continue the strike, Mr. Lynch told the Daily Mail: “They’re showing a tremendous amount of commitment to the dispute and we haven’t been shown any signs that people are falling away.”
‘They do realise what they’re getting into and do understand the conflicts that we’ve had, and they’re willing to make that sacrifice,’ the union head, who earns a six-figure salary, said.
There haven’t been any requests for the dispute to be dropped.
If the TSSA must “throw in the towel” to protect people with lesser earnings, Mr. Cortes said, “No, we will not be throwing in the towel because the labour movement has solidarity, and if we need to gather cash to support those members who may be suffering, we will do so.”
In the past, it has always been done when disagreements are drawn out.
This may be necessary, according to the general secretary, who also earns a six-figure income, since some of his members make as little as £18,000.
Over 40,000 RMT employees will strike tomorrow and on Saturday. On Friday, 10,000 more London Underground employees will walk out in a different protest over pensions and job losses.
Three nationwide walkouts were previously organised by the RMT in June, in addition to one last month.
Both unions want salary hikes to keep pace with inflation, which is predicted to grow to 11.9%.
‘It saddens me that we are once again asking travellers to stay away from the train for two days this week due to unjustified strike action, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers,’ said Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines.
He asked customers to only go if it was “absolutely essential” and to review the schedules for the decreased service.