Yesterday, as thousands more workers chose to walk out of work, union bosses threatened the largest railway strikes in nearly a century.
A “summer of discontent” was approved by train drivers for eight operators, including those on well-travelled corridors like the East Coast Main Line.
Additionally, TSSA union members who work for Network Rail and operator Southeastern decided to participate in walkouts.
Members of TSSA for five operators and members of Aslef for three further operators have previously voted in favour of walkouts on trains.
The largest of the three rail unions, the militant RMT, is about to announce yet another wave of walkouts at Network Rail, the London Underground, and 14 mainline train companies.
Although the exact dates of the walkout have not yet been set, union leaders have promised to coordinate them in an effort to spark the largest walkout since the general strike of 1926.
The earliest they could all go simultaneously would be on July 26 because they must give at least two weeks’ notice.
The Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Birmingham from July 28 through August 8th, could be the target of an attack during that week or the first week of August.
With millions of families planning international vacations when the majority of schools break up on July 22, it would also cause mayhem for those travelling domestically for holidays and those attempting to get to airports.
According to rumours, the three unions are holding off on declaring dates so they can plan their action.
We’re likely on the verge of the biggest rail strike wave since 1926, TSSA chief Manuel Cortes warned the Daily Mail.
In everything we do, we strive to have the greatest possible impact.
“We might reach an agreement before we have to take any action,” the employer said, “if the Government removes its dead hand from the negotiations and gives employers a free hand.”
Many of our members, who were the people who transported important employees and supplies throughout the nation during the epidemic, according to Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, have not received a pay raise since 2019.
Despite the fact that train drivers already make an average income of £54,000, compared to about £31,000 for nurses and £41,000 for police officers, he claimed that the requests were not “unreasonable.”
“We congratulate our comrades in Aslef for their fantastic vote result and the enormous mandate they have for strike action on the railways,” RMT president Mick Lynch said.
“Railway unions and others are an irresistible force in the workplace and wider society when they come together.”
Rail executives acknowledge that very few trains could run if all three unions strike simultaneously.
Only RMT employees participated in the most recent series of three 24-hour walkouts, during which they were able to maintain about one in five services.
About 90,000 train workers are covered by the three unions combined. They demand a promise of no forced layoffs and wage hikes of at least 7%.
Yesterday, negotiations between the RMT, Network Rail, and train operators resumed in an effort to reach an agreement.
‘We want to see rail unions engage with train operators over the reforms needed to secure a bright long-term future for the industry, including working with Aslef to deliver the more punctual, reliable services we know passengers care about,’ a spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said.