Rail workers from 14 train operators are set to strike on May 13th, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final, following the rejection of the latest offer from the Rail
Delivery Group (RDG) to resolve a pay dispute.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members will walk out after the union’s executive declined a “clarification“ on the offer, which included a 5% first-year payment, but with the condition that the union ended its industrial mandate, precluding further strikes.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch criticised the RDG for retracting its initial proposals and claimed that the Tory Government had pressured them into doing so. The RMT is also re-balloting its members and may call for a further programme of strike action if it achieves a “yes” vote. Additionally, the drivers union Aslef has announced strikes on May 12th, May 31st, and June 3rd. The RMT’s re-ballot is expected to conclude on May 4th. Photo by Evelyn Simak, Wikimedia commons.