Rail workers vote for summer strike misery

Biggest walkout in modern history ‘within weeks’ amid warnings of power blackouts

THOUSANDS of rail workers yesterday voted in favour of strikes which could begin within weeks.

It paves the way for a ‘summer of discontent’ and the biggest walkout in modern history if a deal is not struck with Network Rail and 15 train operators covering most of the country.

The militant RMT union said that of more than 40,000 members balloted, 89 per cent voted in favour of strikes. The turnout was 71 per cent. It has been balloting members since last month.

Its boss, Mick Lynch, said strikes could begin ‘from mid-June’.

He added: ‘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.’

It comes as civil servants also threaten strike action over pay rises.

The RMT dispute is regarding pay and claims that Network Rail, which operates Britain’s railway infrastructure, plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs. Network Rail denies it plans to make compulsory redundancies and says it will not have to if the union agrees to staff working more flexibly.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said: ‘The RMT has jumped the gun here as everyone loses if there’s a strike.

‘We know our people are concerned about job security and pay. As a public body we have been working on offering a pay increase that taxpayers can afford, and we continue to discuss this with our trades unions.

‘We urge the RMT to sit down with us and continue to talk, not walk, so that we can find a compromise and avoid damaging industrial action. Any industrial action now would be disastrous for our industry’s recovery and would hugely impact vital supply and freight chains.’

There could be power blackouts, petrol shortages and empty shelves if strikes do go ahead.

Trains supplying critical power plants could be severely disrupted, hitting electricity feeds to millions of homes. Ministers have been told the lights could go out in some areas if the strikes last more than a couple of days.

In response, rail chiefs are drawing up emergency plans to prioritise freight trains on some routes in a bid to keep the lights on and the country moving.

Prior to the outcome of the ballot being made public, Mr Lynch had been asked on TalkTV whether strike action could last until next year.

He said: ‘Well if there’s no settlement [this year] it will. We have the safest railways in Europe at the moment and we don’t want to see that diluted. The railways need to be properly funded and properly staffed.’

He went on: ‘We’ve not had a pay rise going into a third year so we’re looking to make those losses up for our members.’

Union leaders want staff pay rises in line with the RPI rate of inflation – currently 11.1 per cent. Ministers argue that rail workers have already enjoyed pay increases above those of nurses, teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Meanwhile, civil servants are considering a strike over public sector pay that would cause chaos at airports, courts and tax offices.

Ministers warned yesterday that restraint was needed on taxpayerfunded salaries to avoid ‘spiralling inflation’. But the leader of the largest union representing civil servants said it would retaliate by balloting members on strike action.

The Government has announced

‘Disastrous for our recovery’

that pay increases across the civil service will be pegged at an average of 2 per cent for the year ahead. Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said yesterday his members believed there was ‘now no alternative’ to strikes.

The union, which represents more than 55,000 civil servants, voted at its national conference yesterday to hold a national ballot on industrial action this autumn. The ballot is expected to take place in September.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The Government has already pledged to increase public sector spending and is awaiting decisions by public sector review bodies. However, ministers made clear the risk of triggering higher inflation must be part of considerations when deciding pay awards this year.’