Rail strike: Talks to end dispute resume as travellers face more delayson June 22, 2022 at 9:34 am

Talks to end the rail strike have resumed as train services in Britain continue to be disrupted.

Millions of people were affected on Tuesday after rail workers walked out in the largest strike in decades.

Strikes are not being held on Wednesday, but only 60% of trains are running.

Network Rail’s chief negotiator Tim Shoveller, in a dispute with the RMT union, said he wanted to keep talking until they could achieve a deal.

The RMT, whose members are striking over jobs, pay and conditions, are meeting with Network Rail and train companies. It is not known how long talks will go on for.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Shoveller stressed there was “still time for talking”.

“It’s really important we continue to stress the fact there is no need to have a strike. It doesn’t help,” he said.

“The fact there is a strike means that we lose money in the industry, as well as upsetting our passengers and causing disruption to the wider economy.

“So a really key objective for me is to make sure we get these strikes called off at the earliest possible opportunity.”

The BBC understands even if a deal is reached, it would be too late to prevent disruption on Thursday due to the timetable being set.

Thursday’s strike is set to be identical in terms of impact with half of the network closed and only 20% of services running with some areas having no trains at all.

With 48 hours’ notice, disruption on Saturday could be avoided if a deal is agreed, it is understood.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned passengers must be ready to “stay the course”, insisting that reforms of the rail sector are in the interests of the travelling public.

About 40,000 members of the RMT union working for Network Rail and 13 train operators walked out on Tuesday.

Half of all lines were closed and much of the country had no rail service at all, including most of Scotland and Wales, the whole of Cornwall and Dorset, and places such as Chester, Hull, Lincoln and Worcester.

RMT members on London Underground also walked out, leaving normally crammed stations deserted.

It led to travel woes across Britain – from surging road traffic and journeys taking longer – as people took buses, cabs and bikes instead.

Disruption is set to continue on Wednesday, because the lack of overnight staff delayed the first trains by up to four hours in some places, and only about 60% of normal services will run.

In London, there were no Tube lines running before 08:00 BST and Transport for London has advised people to avoid using the service until mid-morning as disruption is likely to continue.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the turnout at picket lines on Tuesday was “fantastic” and exceeded the union’s campaign.

“Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in the pursuit of a settlement to this dispute,” he said.

The RMT is calling for a pay rise of 7%, while employers have offered a maximum of 3%. Inflation – the rate at which prices are rising – is currently 9% but the Bank of England forecasts it will reach about 11% in the autumn.

BBC Transport Correspondent Katy Austin said Network Rail would consider a higher offer if modernisation plans were accepted, due to the savings involved.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, has also made a 2% offer with an extra 1% conditional on modernisation. That has been rejected by the RMT too.

Mr Johnson said pay rises in line with soaring inflation needed to be resisted.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said he understood unions felt they should fight their workers’ corner.

But, he said there was a risk that if the RMT were successful in their 7% pay rise claim that would stimulate pressures on inflation which would keep it higher for longer.

“That will only hurt the lowest paid and most vulnerable in our communities more,” he added.

Mr Lynch accused the government, which owns Network Rail, of actively preventing employers and the RMT from reaching a settlement.

The RMT has been asked by Network Rail to attend formal consultation talks next month on introducing “modern working practices”.

Network Rail’s Mr Shoveller said about 1,800 jobs were expected to be cut, but the “the vast majority” would be through “voluntary severance and natural wastage”.

The changes would mean “dumping outdated working practices and introducing new technology”, he said.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the prime minister said without modernisation to the industry, train operators risked going bust and passengers faced ever-increasing prices that could lead to them abandoning rail travel.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to introduce a new law this week to make it legal for employers to bring in agency staff to replace striking workers – but it will not impact the planned rail strikes on Thursday and Saturday.

How are you affected by the rail strikes? Do you have an important event to attend during the strike period? What alternative travel arrangements have you made? Tell us by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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