RAIL STRIKES COULD GO ON UNTIL XMAS
CHRISTMAS travel plans may be disrupted as rail strikes are set to continue.
It raises the prospect of a repeat of yesterday’s disruption which hit an estimated 2.5 million journeys as 54,000 workers walked out.
RMT assistant secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We’re in it until we win it. It’ll affect Christmas.
“We’re going to have to get creative. I won’t let the cat out of the bag but we will alter our position if we don’t see some movement in the next short period.”
General secretary Mick Lynch added: “Strikes will go on until we get a settlement. We don’t want to continue strikes through Christmas but if there’s no settlement they will continue.” Staff from four unions refused to work yesterday in the pay and conditions dispute.
And disruption will continue next week as members of two unions walk out on Wednesday.
Then 40,000 RMT members, employed by Network Rail and 15 train companies, are striking for 24 hours next Saturday.
The Government has accused strikers of “punishing the people unions claim to stand up for”.
A spokesman added: “We urge union bosses to reconsider this divisive action.”
Yesterday the RMT said six top-paid rail bosses will see their pay rise by over £50,000 each following the mini-budget.
They include Graham Sutherland, boss of the firm that operates several train companies including scandal-hit Avanti West Coast.
Union vow: We’re in it till we win it