The Rail, Shipping and Transport (RMT) union announced the strikes at train operating companies – which run the trains – on the same days as other union members plan walkouts elsewhere on the transport network. The RMT said it is also planning strikes at Network Rail (which operates the rail network) on November 3, 5 and 7 and, in a separate dispute, will take strike action on the London Underground and Overground networks on November 3. Talks were taking place between the RMT and the Rail Delivery Group, the UK rail industry’s membership body. However, the union has not made an offer on pay, jobs and conditions, necessitating the strike, the RMT said. The failure to promote a bid was “totally absurd”, according to RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. “Some of our train company members are among the lowest paid on the railways,” Mr Lynch said. “This is in stark contrast to the bosses of the rail operating companies who are making millions of pounds in profits.” Talks are ongoing but industrial action is planned to go ahead. Which rail operators are affected? The 14 train operating companies include Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast and South Western Railway. The other 11 companies are: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Northern Trains, South Eastern, Transpennine Express, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express). “We remain open to meaningful talks but are steadfast in our industrial campaign to see a negotiated settlement for all our members in this dispute,” Mr Lynch added. The latest strikes come after a summer of strikes across many industries and failed talks between unions and company bosses. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: “We are disappointed that RMT leadership has decided to take further strike action. “Given their recent call for ‘intense negotiations’ we hoped they would give our staff and customers a much needed break from the disruption and loss of pay of the last five months. “Instead of causing more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we are asking the RMT to recognize the very real financial challenge facing the railway and work with us on a fair deal that offers a pay rise and includes changes that have It’s long overdue to do to improve services for our customers.” The RMT is just one of a number of unions and organizations involved in industrial action. Also within the rail industry, Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) and TSSA (The Transport Salaried Staffs Association) have organized strikes for thousands of members in recent months.
