UK rail strike

Talks will continue today (Monday 1 June) to try to avert National rail strikes called by the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) trade union for Thursday 4 June for 24 hours, and 9 June for 48 hours.  Both start at 17:00, designed to cause the maximum disruption.

The first one will mean a short working week for many, but the two-day walkout, starting on a Tuesday will probably have a disastrous effect on the whole country with massive traffic jams predicted. 

London Underground is not affected but the Heathrow Express is likely to have limited services.  Gatwick will be severely affected.  Staff had been due to walk out two weeks ago in a row over pay, but the union's executive suspended the action when Network Rail offered a new deal.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the strike action was "unnecessary and unreasonable."

Union reps met last Thursday to discuss the latest offer but it was rejected, leading to the announcement of fresh strikes.

Mick Cash, General Secretary of RMT, said they had been left with "no option" but to start the industrial action.

Mr Cash said there was a "massive mandate" for the strike, showing the "anger of safety-critical staff across the rail network and attacks on their standards of living."  www.rmt.org.uk    www.networkrail.co.uk

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