Summer of discontent heralds a lean Christmas
SUPPLIES of presents in time for Christmas are under threat from a “summer of discontent” on the railways.
Britain’s fragile supply chains risk being thrown into chaos as rail strikes stretch into July and August, bosses say.
More than 600 freight trains run up and down Britain every day carrying billions of pounds of goods – from televisions, clothes, whisky and Christmas decorations, to construction materials, steel, cars and waste paper.
Ministers chose to prioritise rail freight over passenger services last week to avoid supermarkets running out of food and blackouts at large power stations such as Drax.
It meant that a rail freight crisis was largely averted last week as 40,000 workers walked out for three days last week in a row over pay and working conditions.
The timing of the action was also fortuitous, as a surge in shipping containers of goods from Chinese ports following the easing of a Covid lockdown last month has yet to hit Britain’s supply chains.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is now thought to be targeting the next wave of industrial action at the end of July. Mick Lynch, its general secretary, has a mandate to continue striking for up to six months.
A top rail freight industry figure said: “As the year goes on, freight gets busier, particularly containers, so that’s the big worry. The China surge will come in. And those ships are sailing now.
“It always gets busier as you go into August, particularly when we start seeing the Christmas stuff come through.”
Another senior rail industry source added: “From a freight perspective, Christmas is literally just around the corner with orders already at sea and heading for our shores. If this strike escalates, then it might not be the Christmas our children are hoping for.”
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said: “Rather than standing on picket lines, union representatives should be back around the negotiating table and agree a deal to bring our rail industry into the 21st century.”