A new train strike has been announced for late next month by the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) union.

Staff at nine rail companies and Network Rail are expected to walk out from midday on Monday, September 26 for 24 hours.

The latest action over pay, job security and conditions comes amid a summer of discontent in the UK, with similar strikes taking place across various industries amid soaring inflation and energy costs.

The TSSA wants the government to allow train companies to return to the negotiating table with a better offer – branding the 2% offer rejected earlier in the summer ‘insulting’.

But the union said it was still in talks with Network Rail about a possible settlement.

Its leader Manuel Cortes said: ‘The dead hand of [transport secretary] Grant Shapps is sadly stopping [department for transport] train operating companies from making a revised, meaningful offer.  

‘Frankly, he either sits across the negotiating table with our union or gets out of the way to allow railway bosses to freely negotiate with us, as they have done in the past.

‘The reason for the current impasse lies squarely at Shapps’ door and passengers are paying a high price for his incompetence and intransigence.’

He continued: ‘I welcome the fact that negotiations are ongoing with Network Rail and the gap towards a resolution is narrowing. Time will tell whether a deal can be done to avert our next strike.’

The strike action will coincide with the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, with the Labour-affiliated TSSA asking MPs to join them on the picket line.

That could present Sir Keir Starmer with further headaches, after previously sacking one shadow cabinet member for going on a picket line, but not another.

The Government has told train workers to call off the strikes and get around the negotiating table.

It has also blasted the impact on commuters and the public.

A number of economists and the Bank of England have suggested that significant and widespread payrises will only further fuel inflation.

Meanwhile, a second day of postal strikes is taking place today, involving 115,000 staff. Two more walkouts are planned next week.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

Source: Read Full Article