Mick Lynch stood on the picket line in London today as his militant union began a new strike that has prevented millions from travelling and cost the economy another £100 million or more.
Only one in five trains are currently running as a result of the strike.
After a week of unrest in late June, the 40,000 RMT members’ industrial action forced the closure of at least half of Britain’s rail network, with additional disruptions scheduled for August.
When the present six-month mandate for walkouts ends at the end of the year, according to Mr. Lynch, there is a chance that new strikes will start in the early summer.
Only eight people were waiting on the concourse as the firebrand leader arrived at a barren Euston Station this morning during rush hour.
Additionally, despite Sir Keir Starmer’s advice to his MPs to stay away from picket lines, Shadow Transport Minister Sam Tarry joined Mr. Lynch at Euston, prompting calls for the Labour leader to fire him.
With additional strikes coming up in the next several days and a wave of industrial action on the trains and London Underground slated for next month, the acrimonious dispute over jobs, pay, pensions, and conditions is becoming worse.
Today, only about one in five trains will run, and there won’t be any trains at all in other locations. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators went on strike, and picket lines were set up outside of train stations.
The restricted services will be available from 7:30 am to 6 pm, but frequently earlier.
Only take the train if you really have to, and if you do, give additional time and find out when your last train is leaving. Since the UK will have the poorest economy in the G7 next year, millions of people will need to work from home during certain hours, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the UK hospitality sector, strikes can cost pubs, restaurants, and bars up to £100 million each day, while other expenditures are estimated to total about £30 million.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, called union requests for him to participate in talks to end rail strikes “a complete red herring” and said, “It’s just a game by the unions.”
By the way, it’s a complete red herring and it’s not how strikes are settled.
The only possible parties are the unions, the train operating firms, and the employer, in this case Network Rail. We must undergo this modernization, he continued.
A wage raise is also possible because it needs to be resolved, but I’m afraid the unions have been very aggressive about it.
As workers report back to work on Thursday morning, trains are anticipated to be delayed and services will begin later than usual.
On Wednesday, members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) will strike at Avanti West Coast, and on Saturday, driving union Aslef members will strike at seven different companies.
Union members, according to RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, are more committed than ever to obtain a fair salary increase, job security, and favourable working conditions.
“Network Rail has not improved upon their prior salary offer, and the train operators have not made any additional concessions to us.”
In reality, Network Rail stepped up the pressure on us by threatening to implement mandatory layoffs and risky 50 percent maintenance work cuts if we did not end our planned strike action.
The train operating firms have proposed driver-only operations and revoked the terms and conditions of our members.
RMT will continue to bargain in good faith, but we will not submit to intimidation or prodding from anyone.
“The Government has to quit interfering in this issue so the rail employers can negotiate a deal with us,” the rail employers said.
As Britain prepares for yet another 24-hour boycott that would paralyse the rail network, militant RMT union chiefs reportedly rejected Network Rail’s latest bumper offer despite earlier preparations to accept the proposal, it was revealed yesterday.
In crucial negotiations with the Government that might have resulted in the cancellation of Wednesday’s strikes, the union’s representatives reportedly had the ground yanked out from under them.
The ‘4+4′ contract, which would have given employees a 4 percent pay increase this year and another 4 percent raise the next year, was apparently rejected at the last minute by RMT leaders, according to the Telegraph.
Additionally, union firebrand Lynch resisted putting an end to rumours that long-lasting walkouts may be planned in an effort to intimidate train executives and ministers.
To date, the RMT has called strikes on alternate days, with two 24-hour walkouts in August and one today, which will cause havoc for commuters and tourists.
Additionally, there were strikes on June 21, 23, and 25.
But Friday night, the RMT declared that on August 19, the London Underground would go on another 24-hour strike.
It coincides with their nationwide strikes on August 18 and 20.
When asked if there was a chance for week-long walkouts, Mr. Lynch responded, “We will look at our strategies as we go on.”
We’ll look at what works best and how to advance the interests of our members.
It followed a union source’s statement that, “While we are not currently participating in two-week walkouts, we are completely prepared to do so in the event that we are unable to reach an amicable agreement.”
They marched us up the hill and back down, a source close to the situation told the Telegraph.
The RMT administration appears dedicated to reviving the labour movement tenaciously.
Later, the union refuted the allegations and said that Network Rail had changed its mind about the agreement.
It follows Liz Truss’ promise to halt militant unions from “paralysing” the economy as the front-runner for the Tory leadership.
A minimum number of trains must operate during strikes, according to Miss Truss’ proposed law, which would be similar to policies in other European nations.
She also wants to increase the percentage of qualified workers who must support a strike from 40% to 50%.
She has pledged to restrict members from getting tax-free payments from their unions on strike days and to double the notice period for industrial action to four weeks.
The plans by Liz Truss represent the largest assault on civil and labour rights since the legalisation of labour unions in 1871, according to Mr. Lynch.
Truss wants to outlaw effective trade unionism in Britain and deprive the working class of a crucial democratic right.
If these laws are passed, the trade union movement will stage its strongest defence ever, rivalling the general strike of 1926, the Suffragettes, and Chartism.
The general secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, expressed her indignation as well, claiming that Liz Truss had declared war on the labour movement and the working class.
Let’s be clear: Her outrageous proposals aim to effectively outlaw effective trade unions and strike action.
“This manifesto is nothing more than a discontent charter.”
An ambitious politician vying for the votes of a small minority has threatened to take away the rights of working people.
This would-be prime minister has instead opted to bring back the working conditions in Britain to the 19th century at a time of a cost of living crisis where corporations are driving inflation rather than wages.
Threats will not sway Unite, and any attempt to exempt us from the law will be faced with tenacious, sustained resistance.
Whether you make lawful industrial action unlawful, which is what she seems to be trying to do, people will have to find other means of action in which they can express themselves industrially, Mr. Lynch said when asked if it meant the “game was up” for his union.
But we’ll fight against passing those laws.
In addition, he forewarned that his union would sue the Government, adding, “We’ll surely look at our legal alternatives.”
The notion that the travelling public was “being held ransom by militant unions” was deemed “absolutely false” by Miss Truss yesterday.
I support the travelling public because they have to get to work in order to perform their jobs, she declared.
The trade unions’ decision to call these strikes while we work to revive the economy is wholly irresponsible.
If elected prime minister, Mr. Sunak said he would also be tough on labour unions, adding, “We need to swiftly execute our 2019 manifesto vow to ensure minimum service levels during transport strikes.”
As prime minister, I’ll put an end to the unions’ extortion of working people.
I’ll take whatever steps are necessary to prevent unions from controlling how the British people live their lives.
Today, protests against Network Rail and 14 train operators will be led by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
Passengers are warned to avoid the trains because only a fifth of the network’s services will run on that day.
According to Mr. Lynch, members are more committed than ever to obtaining a fair pay increase, job security, and favourable working conditions.
He continued, “Network Rail has not improved upon their prior salary offer, and the train operators have not made us any new offers.”
In fact, Network Rail raised the stakes by threatening to impose mandatory layoffs and dangerous 50% cuts to maintenance work if we did not renounce our proposed strike action.
Network Rail anticipates months-long strike action. It was likened to the 1994 signaller strikes, which ended when workers could no longer afford to continue their action, by a source.
The RMT rejected Network Rail’s offer to increase employee compensation by 8% throughout this year and the following year, together with cash bonuses of up to £900 for some employees.
According to insiders, over the course of two years, the agreement would be worth the equivalent of a 13% wage boost for the lowest-paid employees.
Large portions of rural England will be cut off from the train network as a result of today’s strike, with only one in five services running for the entire 11-hour period between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Fans attending the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham will continue to experience disruptions into tomorrow.
When 40,000 workers went on strike for three days last month as part of the largest rail strikes in a generation, the RMT severely disrupted transport.
Network Rail is concerned that the strikes will last for many months and might even get worse because of the Tory leadership contest.
It was likened to the 1994 signaller strikes, which ended when workers could no longer afford to continue their action, by a source.
An further insider remarked, “I don’t understand how Liz or Rishi will garner any votes by going light on the trade unions.”
Britain is preparing for a larger wave of strike action in the upcoming months in response to wage increases for numerous public sector employees that are below inflation.
Trade union leaders claimed that given the rising cost of living, the awards announced, which reached almost 10% for the lowest paid, amounted to a pay cut.
The TSSA union announced yesterday that on August 18 and 20, employees of seven train companies would strike. On the same dates, the RMT has already announced strikes at Network Rail and 14 operators.
Businesses can now utilise agency workers to address critical personnel shortfalls brought on by industrial action according to a change in the legislation this week.
After the rail strikes last month, Boris Johnson announced the plan in an effort to minimise disruption from walkouts.
Miss Truss’s suggestions go farther, but her initiatives are likely to draw more opposition from the labour movement and may have difficulty passing through Parliament.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, declared yesterday: “The right to strike is a crucial British freedom. Workers lose their ability to negotiate for better wages and working conditions when their right to strike is threatened.
“The politicians should come up with proposals to get wages increasing again,” said one voter, “instead of taking potshots at working people and their unions.”
‘Liz Truss is looking to blame anybody and everyone else other than herself for the wreckage the Conservatives have created of the previous 12 years,’ said Angela Rayner, deputy leader of Labour.
These ideas are impractical, would only further diminish working people’s rights, and will exacerbate industrial relations, as we witnessed with the Government’s intentions to break strikes with agency employees.
The campaign for Miss Truss, however, issued the following statement: “Liz is determined to stand up for individuals who work hard and do the right thing.”
“Trade unionists have held the country hostage with the prospect of industrial action for far too long.”
“The measures she has unveiled today will finally enable the government to reclaim power from trade union barons and provide the needed economic growth.”