Train strikes – live: Workers are ‘facing crisis’, union says ahead of disruption

Full story: Large-scale rail strike now inevitable

The biggest national rail shutdown for three decades is now inevitable as talks have failed and it is too late to roster crews to cover services, our travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.

It is going to be first felt at a station in western Scotland on Monday evening.

Full story:

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 15:36

What will be running in the strike?

During the planned nationwide rail strikes for three dates in late June, only 22 per cent of passenger train services will run – most of them on key links to and from London.

Our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, has put together a useful list:

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 15:31

Calls for government to intervene in talks a ‘stunt’, Shapps claims

Grant Shapps has dismissed growing calls for the government to get involved in talks over rail strikes as a “stunt”, amid growing tensions over the biggest industrial action on the network in decades.

Ashley Cowburn, our political correspondent, reports on the transport secretary’s comments this morning:

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 14:32

Union boss says members are facing ‘crisis'

Mick Lynch, the RMT boss, said his union did not want to be the “cause of disruption” for people.

“But we are facing a crisis for our members,” he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday as he explained what lies at the centre of the dispute.

“We’re faced with thousands of job cuts, despite what Grant Shapps says. There has been no guarantee these redundancies won’t be compulsory,” he said.

“We’ve seen four or five thousand jobs already go from the railway. They’ve told our maintenance staff on Network Rail that 3,000 jobs will go.”

The union boss said: “They are going to cut back on the safety regime. They’ve told us that every single booking office in Britain will close. They’ve told us they are going to extend the working week from 35 hours to 40 - or possibly 44.

“And for new entrants, that will mean lower wages. So they are actually proposing pay cuts, not a pay rise, and an increase in working time on the railway.”

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 12:13

Transport secretary asked why he hasn’t met union since last month

The transport secretary has been asked why he has not met with the RMT union - which has called the strikes - since the middle of May.

Grant Shapps said negotiations needed to take place with the employers. “Those are the people who have the power to settle this,” he said.

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 11:20

‘Isn’t that just code for job cuts?’ Shapps asked

Grant Shapps also told Sky News the government wanted “modernisation” on the railways in return for pay.

Presenter Sophy Ridge asked him if that was “code” for job cuts.

Here is his reply:

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 10:17

‘This is no way to behave,’ travel secretary tells unions

Grant Shapps has warned the RMT union that this week’s rail strikes will be “disastrous” for the industry.

The travel secretary accused union boss Mick Lynch of “gunning” for industrial action that will inconvenience millions of people through the country.

“It is a huge mistake. The unions have been gunning for this strike throughout. This strike is completely unnecessary,” he told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

“It is going to inconvenience millions of people - students doing their GCSEs and A-levels, people trying to get to hospitals to try get operations that have been postponed, perhaps, during coronavirus.

“It is disastrous. It is no way to behave on the railway. There is no advantage to this. I know Mick Lynch says he is ‘nostalgic for union power’ but this is no way to behave.”

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 09:11

Starmer accuses government of ‘pouring petrol on fire’ of rail strike dispute

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson and the transport secretary Grant Shapps of “stoking divisions” over nationwide rail strikes set to take place this week.

The Labour leader will accuse the government of “pouring petrol on the fire” over its handling of the dispute with unions, instead of attempting to take the heat out of the row.

Ashley Cowburn reports:

Zoe Tidman19 June 2022 00:57

What are the strikes all about?

Here is a reminder of what rail workers are fighting for.

Union boss Mick Lynch said thousands of jobs were being cut across the rail networks and workers were facing below-inflation pay rises.

“In the face of this massive attack on our people the RMT cannot be passive,” he said.

Other issues at stake are outlined here:

Zoe Tidman18 June 2022 20:09

ICYMI: London mayor blames government over one of next week’s strikes

London’s mayor has accused the government of “inciting” one of next week’s rail strikes, as more workers are set to be balloted for industrial action in growing disputes over pay and jobs.

Full story:

Zoe Tidman18 June 2022 19:09

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