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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| RMT union announces November rail strike dates | RMT union announces November rail strike dates |
| (4 months later) | |
| More rail strikes over pay and conditions will take place on 3, 5, and 7 November, the RMT union has announced. | More rail strikes over pay and conditions will take place on 3, 5, and 7 November, the RMT union has announced. |
| It threatens a week's worth of disruption similar to previous strikes, the BBC understands. | It threatens a week's worth of disruption similar to previous strikes, the BBC understands. |
| RMT general secretary Mick Lynch accused Network Rail of "dishonesty" in negotiations. | RMT general secretary Mick Lynch accused Network Rail of "dishonesty" in negotiations. |
| Network Rail said it had a two year, 8% pay increase deal "on the table ready to be put to our staff". | Network Rail said it had a two year, 8% pay increase deal "on the table ready to be put to our staff". |
| Rail workers at 14 train companies will also strike on 3 and 5 November. | Rail workers at 14 train companies will also strike on 3 and 5 November. |
| It is thought only 20% of usual services will run, and knock-on disruption is likely the morning after strikes. | It is thought only 20% of usual services will run, and knock-on disruption is likely the morning after strikes. |
| Strike action by RMT rail workers is also planned on the London Underground and London Overground on 3 November, in separate disputes. | Strike action by RMT rail workers is also planned on the London Underground and London Overground on 3 November, in separate disputes. |
| Ongoing disputes | Ongoing disputes |
| There have been a series of rail strikes in the UK over the past months, as unions have clashed with Network Rail - which maintains and operates the infrastructure - train firms and the government, over pay and conditions. | There have been a series of rail strikes in the UK over the past months, as unions have clashed with Network Rail - which maintains and operates the infrastructure - train firms and the government, over pay and conditions. |
| Announcing the latest strikes, the union said that Network Rail had performed a "U-turn" on an earlier pay offer and "sought to impose job cuts, more unsocial hours and detrimental changes to rosters". | Announcing the latest strikes, the union said that Network Rail had performed a "U-turn" on an earlier pay offer and "sought to impose job cuts, more unsocial hours and detrimental changes to rosters". |
| Network Rail disputes this, and says it actually made an improved offer by extending the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies by a further year to January 2025. | Network Rail disputes this, and says it actually made an improved offer by extending the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies by a further year to January 2025. |
| "Unfortunately, the leadership of the RMT seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer," Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said. | "Unfortunately, the leadership of the RMT seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer," Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said. |
| He added that the rail sector had a £2bn hole in its budget "with many fewer passengers using our services". | He added that the rail sector had a £2bn hole in its budget "with many fewer passengers using our services". |
| On Wednesday, Mr Shoveller wrote to the RMT's general secretary Mick Lynch, saying his union had been wrong to accuse the organisation of reneging on its pay offer. | On Wednesday, Mr Shoveller wrote to the RMT's general secretary Mick Lynch, saying his union had been wrong to accuse the organisation of reneging on its pay offer. |
| An industry source said Network Rail bosses felt the union's communications when announcing the latest strike dates were "disingenuous" | An industry source said Network Rail bosses felt the union's communications when announcing the latest strike dates were "disingenuous" |
| The RMT said its members working for train companies - for example guards - had not been presented with any offer at all on pay, jobs and conditions. | The RMT said its members working for train companies - for example guards - had not been presented with any offer at all on pay, jobs and conditions. |
| Mr Lynch said the union remained open to "meaningful" talks but remained "steadfast in [its] industrial campaign". | Mr Lynch said the union remained open to "meaningful" talks but remained "steadfast in [its] industrial campaign". |
| A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which speaks for train companies, said there was frustration over the decision to take further strike action. | A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which speaks for train companies, said there was frustration over the decision to take further strike action. |
| They wrote: "Given their recent call for 'intense negotiations' we had hoped they would give our staff and customers a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months." | They wrote: "Given their recent call for 'intense negotiations' we had hoped they would give our staff and customers a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months." |
| The spokesperson added: "Instead of inflicting more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we ask the RMT to recognise the very real financial challenge the railway faces, and work with us towards a fair deal that both offers a pay rise and includes the long overdue changes we need to make to improve services for our customers." | The spokesperson added: "Instead of inflicting more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we ask the RMT to recognise the very real financial challenge the railway faces, and work with us towards a fair deal that both offers a pay rise and includes the long overdue changes we need to make to improve services for our customers." |
| Last week, Network Rail's chief negotiator expressed optimism about the progress of talks. | Last week, Network Rail's chief negotiator expressed optimism about the progress of talks. |
| But the RMT has made it clear it does not currently share that view. | But the RMT has made it clear it does not currently share that view. |
| One point of contention is changes to how maintenance teams work. Job losses are involved and the union disagrees with some of the reforms. | One point of contention is changes to how maintenance teams work. Job losses are involved and the union disagrees with some of the reforms. |
| Network Rail is now pushing these through, and has said there is an urgent financial need to do so. | Network Rail is now pushing these through, and has said there is an urgent financial need to do so. |
| But the RMT accuses it of seeking to impose detrimental changes. | But the RMT accuses it of seeking to impose detrimental changes. |
| When it comes to train companies, even less progress appears to have been made in talks. | When it comes to train companies, even less progress appears to have been made in talks. |
| The new Transport Secretary has said she thinks a deal can be done with compromise - but so far things don't appear to have moved much in the negotiations between unions and employers. | The new Transport Secretary has said she thinks a deal can be done with compromise - but so far things don't appear to have moved much in the negotiations between unions and employers. |
| Or at least, not enough to prevent these fresh strikes being announced. | Or at least, not enough to prevent these fresh strikes being announced. |
| The RMT has now begun a new ballot which, if members vote in favour, may mean strike action continues into next Spring. | The RMT has now begun a new ballot which, if members vote in favour, may mean strike action continues into next Spring. |
| So more misery for passengers could be coming down the track. | So more misery for passengers could be coming down the track. |
| Related Topics | |
| Network Rail | |
| Rail travel | |
| London | |
| RMT | |
| Cost of living | |
| Felicity Buchan | |
| Strike action |