The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Mick Lynch, has declared the continuing rail strikes in the UK a “success,” despite the dearth of an agreed pay deal after nearly a 12 months of business action. Lynch acknowledged that the strikes, which commenced in June 2022, have successfully prevented administration from implementing redundancies and controversial reforms similar to widespread ticket workplace closures. He also claimed that the union’s actions have impressed workers in other sectors.
On Friday, around 20,000 staff from 14 firms, including guards and rail managers, participated in another walkout over pay and conditions, causing important disruption. Train drivers’ union ASLEF also held a walkout on Wednesday, with extra motion deliberate for the weekend as a half of the continuing dispute between the federal government and the unions.
Lynch, speaking from a picket line at London’s Euston station, blamed prepare companies for the disruption and mentioned strikes would stop as soon as a “fair” deal was agreed. He argued that the action had already produced outcomes, as railway firms “haven’t been capable of implement any of their plans.”
“ Shh! ’ve pushed them [rail bosses] again on all of the stuff they wanted to do – they wished to make thousands of our individuals redundant, they needed to shut every reserving office in Britain, restructure our engineering workers, [and] cut the catering service,” Lynch said. “What we haven’t obtained is a pay deal, we haven’t obtained any ensures on our members’ futures, however we’ve stopped them doing the worst features of their proposals and their ideas.”
Lynch added that the strikes have been profitable, with members continuing to help the motion via three ballots. He also famous that the strikes have impressed others to take motion in their industries and put trade unions again on the map in Britain.
However, the RMT and ASLEF have rejected pay provides made by the government this 12 months, arguing that the proposed phrases on circumstances and pay are insufficient, particularly given the ongoing high inflation. Some disputes have been resolved, such as a separate row involving RMT employees at Network Rail, who voted to merely accept a revised pay provide in March.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing the UK’s prepare service suppliers, countered the RMT’s claims, stating that “common-sense” reforms are “long overdue.” They mentioned, “There have been three pay deals provided which the RMT govt have reneged despite their negotiators within the room agreeing the terms.”