National train strike gloom as talks hit buffers
A RAIL union is launching three days of national strike action in a move set to affect travel across Portsmouth this month.
More than 50,000 railway workers - including staff from South Western Railways and Network Rail - are expected to walk out on June 21, the first day of the planned industrial action.OnJune23and25,upto 40,000 workers will take part in the strike.
The walk-out, organised by union RMT, follows a breakdown in negotiation over pay freezes and job cuts.
Jeremy Varns, campaign coordinator for South Western Railway Watch, called the unionmove‘highlydisappointing’.
He said: ‘The railways are still recovering from lockdowns, changing work patterns and a corresponding drop in income.
‘The government and taxpayers have helped to protect jobs and services within the industry, but clearly, this cannot continue forever without reform and modernisation.
‘We’ re often told that strikes area last resort, yet general secretary, Mick[ Lynch ], appears to be relishing the chance to “shut down” the network, seemingly indifferent to the impact this will have on passengers.’
However, Mr Lynch said that the rail industry, with the support of the government, has failed to take union members’ concerns seriously.
He added: ‘We have a cost of living crisis, and it is unacceptablefor railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1 per cent and rising.
‘Our union will now em bark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system.
‘Rail companies are making at least £500 ma year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘This unfairness is fuelling our members’ anger and their determination to win a fair settlement .’
Mr Varns is calling for the government to do more to energise the train sector, and said: ‘Greater investment and certainty of funding are needed to capitalise on the changing political landscape and public awareness of environmental matters.
‘Such a policy would bring more jobs, more services and lower fares.’
He also added that the unions must accept some blame for the high expense of train travel.
Mr Varns said: ‘[Union] Leaders are regularly harping on about excessive profits and the need for full renationalisation, yet the simple, in convenient truth is that the operational costs of the industry need to fall.
‘How much more must passengers pay to meet th eR M T’ s current demands? Where do they think this money is coming from if not us?
‘Staff should be paid fairly, and the cost of living crisis is of concern to us all.
‘But my message to striking rail workers is this; preventing those whore lyon a functioning train service from making a livingthemselves is not the way to make your point.
‘I’d also urge the RMT leadership to get back to the negotiating table and to do so in good faith.
‘Striking is a sign of failure on all sides, not cause for celebration.’