Rail workers can cope with going on strike for MONTHS and are ‘fully committed’ to the cause, union barons say
- RMT boss Mick Lynch claimed workers remain ‘fully committed’ to striking
- Walkouts tomorrow and on Saturday will see workers striking across the country
- The RMT has already staged three national walkouts in June and one last month
Rail union barons yesterday insisted workers can afford to carry on striking for months despite already losing thousands of pounds in pay.
RMT boss Mick Lynch claimed workers remain ‘fully committed’ to striking despite many of them losing an estimated £1,500 over the union’s last four walkouts.
However Manuel Cortes, the TSSA’s general secretary, admitted a whip round may be needed for lower-paid workers.
It comes ahead of 24-hour walkouts tomorrow and on Saturday which will see RMT workers for Network Rail and 14 train operators striking across the country.
They will be joined by TSSA workers for seven operators and Network Rail – meaning just one in five trains will run.
Travellers could be hit by knock-on chaos on Friday and Sunday, with service levels at around 70 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.
Union bosses are expected to come under increasing pressure to accept a deal as the dispute drags into its second month.
Mick Lynch (right) at the picket line at Euston station on June 23. The RMT boss has said workers remain ‘fully committed’ to striking despite many of them losing an estimated £1,500 over the union’s last four walkouts
Industry sources believe the bitter industrial action over pay and job security will only end when workers can no longer afford to carry on striking – like the signallers’ walkouts of 1994.
The RMT has already snubbed an 8 per cent pay hike offer by Network Rail, which includes a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
It is worth up to 13 per cent for the lowest-paid workers, but the union has refused to put the offer to workers.
Asked if his members – many of whom are on salaries below the national average – could afford to keep striking, Mr Lynch told the Daily Mail: ‘They’re showing a tremendous amount of commitment to the dispute and we haven’t been shown any signs that people are falling away.’
The union boss, who is paid a six-figure salary, added: ‘They do realise what they’re getting into and do understand the disputes that we’ve got and they’re prepared to make that sacrifice. We have not had people calling for the dispute to be called off.’
Asked if the TSSA will have to ‘throw in the towel’ to spare those on lower incomes, Mr Cortes said: ‘No, we will not be throwing in the towel because the labour movement has solidarity and if we need to raise funds to help those members that may be struggling we will do that. It’s always been done when there’s protracted disputes.’
The general secretary, who is also on a six-figure salary, said this may have to happen as some of his members are on salaries as low as £18,000.
Around 40,000 RMT workers will walk out tomorrow and Saturday. A further 10,000 London Underground staff will strike on Friday in a separate dispute over pensions and job losses.
There are walkouts happening tomorrow and on Saturday, which will see RMT workers for Network Rail and 14 train operators striking across the country. Pictured: a sign at Waterloo road informing travellers about the strikes
The union boss (left), who is paid a six-figure salary, said RMT workers are ‘do realise what they’re getting into and do understand the disputes that we’ve got and they’re prepared to make that sacrifice’
The RMT has already staged three national walkouts in June as well as one last month.
Both unions want pay increases in line with inflation – which is expected to rise to 11.9 per cent.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: ‘It saddens me that we are again having to ask passengers to stay away from the railway for two days this week due to unnecessary strike action, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers.’
He urged passengers to travel only if ‘absolutely necessary’ and check the reduced service timetables.
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