RMT chief claims railway stike is a 'class struggle'

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Strike action sponsored by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has rocked services across the UK. The two unions are helping workers reach a deal on pay and conditions with rail bosses, but at a cost to some commuters. The July 27 walkout is one of two closing out July, with others due in August as a “summer of discontent” not seen in 30 years takes shape.

When is the next train strike?

Today’s strikes will likely ripple into July 28, causing continued delays on some trains ahead of a final push from rail crews on the weekend.

The next strikes follow on Saturday, July 30, spearheaded by the ASLEF rather than RMT union.

Those walkouts will interrupt people on several major railways, but fewer than the 15 expecting disruption today.

Saturday’s strikes will impact the following networks:

• Arriva Rail London
• Greater Anglia
• Great Western
• Hull Trains
• LNER
• Southeastern
• West Midlands Trains

The week of travel chaos does not mark the end of strike action in 2022, as some unions have already greenlit additional walkouts in August.

August’s strikes will freeze operations once more, both on overground and London Underground services.

Overground walkouts will repeat the events of today on August 18 and 20.

The RMT and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) have planned to support workers at 15 rail firms during these dates.

These come as the RMT continues to negotiate with Network Rail, which is among the firms the action will affect.

People will need to plan for another two days of heavily disrupted and partially cancelled services on the following lines:

Network Rail

Chiltern Railways

Cross Country Trains

Greater Anglia

LNER

East Midlands Railway

c2c

Great Western Railway

Northern Trains

South Eastern

South Western Railway Transpennine Express

Avanti West Coast

West Midlands Trains

GTR (including Gatwick Express)

The RMT has also threatened a third strike on August 19 to disrupt London Underground services.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said underground employees would stay off work on the day as the union continues to negotiate jobs and pensions.

He said TfL had refused to share details of a draft Government proposal disclosing funding agreements for the capital’s transport.

TfL has until August 2 to meet the union’s jobs, pensions and working conditions demands.

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