Rail workers in overwhelming vote for strike action over wages

Rail workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action amid an ongoing dispute over pay.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union confirmed more than three-quarters of railway staff are calling for urgent strike action.

Of the 71% who took part in a ballot yesterday, 89% voted in favour of strike action with only 11% against.

The announcement comes just days after the RMT warned the “biggest strike in modern history” was on the horizon.

Union bosses say the outcome signifies the biggest endorsement for industrial action by the sector since privatisation.

Strike action is expected to take place as early as mid-June.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no compulsory redundancies.

“Our NEC will now meet to discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June, but we sincerely hope ministers will encourage the employers to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a reasonable settlement with the RMT.”

The union is now demanding urgent talks with Network Rail and 15 fellow train companies to try to reach a reasonable settlement over pay, jobs and safety.

More than 40,000 members of Network Rail and operators such as LNER, East Midlands Railway and the Great Western Railway took part in the ballot.

Network Rail has also announced cuts, with up to 2,500 maintenance jobs set to be axed.

ScotRail workers are not believed to have been involved in the vote.

However, the decision comes amid a backlash over ScotRail’s temporary timetable

A third of ScotRail services have been temporarily axed from the schedule due to ongoing staff shortages.

Around 700 journeys across Scotland have been affected by the move, which has received criticism from representatives and travellers alike.

The RMT’s Mick Lynch.