UK rail union warns strikes could last all year after talks fail

Train strikes in the UK could stretch into the autumn and beyond unless a deal is reached, the leader of the country’s rail union has warned after talks to end the deadlock failed.

Reports on Monday said the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) called on its more than 50,000 workers to hold a three-day national strike, coinciding with major events such as the Glastonbury music festival.

In what has been dubbed the biggest railway strike in over three decades in the UK, the plan will go ahead on Tuesday, Thursday, and next Saturday amid an ongoing dispute over pay and pensions.

The trade union covering the transport sector has also announced a 24-hour walkout of its members on the Tube, London's underground railway network, on Tuesday.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT was quoted as saying that unions were not looking for compromise after negotiations with rail bosses failed to make progress over the weekend.

He warned that the strike could continue and cause "significant disruption" to the transportation network.

There "doesn’t seem to be much evidence" that further strikes can be avoided," Lynch noted, warning, "Train strikes could stretch on into the autumn."

Lynch was quoted as saying by Financial Times that there was currently “no chance” of reaching a deal

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The RMT leadership has a six-month mandate to launch industrial action over low pay rises, job cuts, and working practices until the end of November after members voted in favor of strikes in May.

But Lynch said he would go back to members for a new mandate to extend the dispute into next year if an agreement cannot be found.

“We will renew the mandates until we get a settlement to the problems in the dispute,” he said.

Union strikers say the strikes are necessary as wages have failed to keep pace with inflation, which has hit a 40-year high.

Meanwhile, the British government and the RMT continued the war of words over the weekend.

"Talks have not progressed as far as I had hoped and so we must prepare for a needless national rail strike and the damaging impact it will have," said Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, which looks after the country's rail tracks.

"We, and our train operating colleagues, are gearing up to run the best service we can for passengers and freight users next week, despite the actions of the RMT."

The strikes are likely to compound travel chaos in the aviation sector, after airlines were forced to cut flights due to staff shortages, causing long delays and frustration for passengers.

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RMT leaders said there were no viable solutions presented by the railway bosses to settle the dispute.

Meanwhile, the country’s transport secretary accused the union leaders of refusing to meet for further talks.

British transport secretary Grant Shapps claimed the planned rail strikes were a "huge mistake" that will stop people from attending hospital appointments, sitting school exams, or getting to work.

Lynch accused the transport secretary of lying.

Western countries are facing mass public dissatisfaction linked to decades-high inflation.

Experts attribute the problems to the global impact of the COVID pandemic exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict, which has had a detrimental effect on global energy and food prices.

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