UK rail passengers are set for more disruption to services after four weeks of new industrial action was announced.
Members of the RMT union are set to take action from mid-December to early January, including a series of four 48-hour strikes, as the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions with Network Rail and 14 train operating companies continues.
The new strikes by around 40,000 rail staff will take place on 13-14 and 16-17 December, as well as 3-4 and 6-7 January. There will also be an overtime ban by the RMT from 18 December to 2 January, which will cause further disruption to services.
RMT made the decision after accusing train operators of not offering any new deals to settle the long-running dispute and cancelling further negotiations. Train passengers have already had to endure eight days of national rail strikes this year.
Mick Lynch, the union’s general secretary, said: “This latest round of strikes will show how important our members are to the running of this country and will send a clear message that we want a good deal on job security, pay and conditions for our people.
“We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement when the dead hand of government is presiding over these talks.
“In the meantime, our message to the public is we are sorry to inconvenience you, but we urge you to direct your anger and frustration at the government and railway employers during this latest phase of action.”
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the train operators, said there had been “real progress” in recent talks with the RMT.
“Further strikes, especially in the run-up to Christmas, will disrupt the first normal festive season our passengers have been able to look forward to since the Covid pandemic, taking even more money out of the pockets of railway staff, and will cause huge damage to the hospitality and retail sectors dependent on this time of the year for their businesses,” added the spokesperson.
“We are asking the RMT to stay at the negotiating table, work with us towards a fair deal and end a dispute that is harming passengers, the industry, and their members.”
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, called for the RMT and the government to “get around the table” to try to avoid the latest series of strikes.
“The timing of this announcement could not be worse for British businesses,” added Wratten. “Companies had just begun to return to the railway network after a summer of disruption. This will damage corporate confidence and undermine essential economic activity.”