UK’s rail strikes continue with further disruption stretched over weekend

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) - Almost all train journeys across the UK are still on hold as the unions reject backing off from their demand of a “decent pay.”

Trade unions have been calling for better pay for their members amid the cost of living crisis, with inflation now close to 11%, but negotiations are continuing to stall with sides blaming each other for not reaching a solution.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) started their strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, while train drivers represented by ASLEF — which represents 96% of train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales — held industrial action on Thursday.

The RMT members resumed their walkout on Friday, and this will affect travel over the weekend as their strike is planned to continue until Sunday.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, has put the blame on the government, saying there was “an unprecedented level of ministerial interference.”

In a statement, Lynch said: “We have worked with the rail industry to reach successful negotiated settlements ever since privatization in 1993, and we have achieved deals across the network in 2021 and 2022 where the Department for Transport has no involvement. Yet in this dispute, there is an unprecedented level of ministerial interference, which is hamstringing rail employers from being able to negotiate a package of measures with us, so we can settle this dispute.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper denied the accusations, telling Sky News: “There is a fair and reasonable pay offer on the table. There is not a bottomless pit of taxpayers’ money here. Taxpayers have put a huge amount of investment into the rail industry over the last few years when it was hit with a huge impact from the pandemic when people weren’t traveling.”

With the British government expected to announce legislation to enforce a “minimum service level,” union leaders warned that rules limiting strikes could have an unintended “knock-on effect."

ASLEF’s leadership is due to meet Huw Merriman, the rail minister, on Monday.