UK rail union RMT has announced more strikes over the Christmas holiday period as its dispute with Network Rail and train operating companies continues.
Around 40,000 RMT members are already due to strike on 13-14 December and 16-17 December. Now the union has said that it will also hold a strike between 6pm on 24 December and 05.59 on 27 December.
The union had already turned down a new pay offer from train companies on Sunday (4 December) in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Although the RMT said it would put a separate Network Rail proposal to its members next Monday (12 December), with the recommendation that it should be rejected.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch blamed the latest strike dates on the “continuing intransigence” of employers.
“We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members,” said Lynch.
The union said the latest strike dates “coincide with the wind down of passenger services and the commencement of engineering works” over the Christmas holiday, although travellers will still face disruption on Christmas Eve.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “These ongoing strikes and the general lack of overall service across the UK’s rail networks, is forcing commuters and business travellers to consider other alternatives, especially working from home.
“This latest round of strikes could not come at a worse time and will cause huge amounts of chaos during the Christmas period. These strikes will impact businesses, still recovering from the pandemic, robbing them of the last-minute Christmas shopping and festive meals on which they traditionally rely.
“UK hospitality has already warned recently that strikes will cost the sector about £1.5 billion in lost sales.”