Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) that work in train operators in England began a service strike on Saturday to protest their working conditions and wages. In total there are 14 railway companies in the United Kingdom that have been affected by the train stoppages, which will be repeated next Saturday, September 2.
According to the aforementioned union group, its members have had “no choice but to adopt” as they have not received any improved or revised offer from the country’s train operator Rail Delivery Group. The measure has affected passenger train journeys to music festivals in Reading and Leeds, as well as the Notting Hill carnival in London, which takes place this weekend.
Mick Lynch, RMT’s general secretary, lamented that the UK government “is not serious about resolving this dispute, leading to further disruption for passengers.” The various railway unions are also embroiled in a dispute over planes to close ticket offices at train stations, a project that has also angered passenger groups and representatives of the elderly and disabled.
“Our industrial campaign will start the time it will take to reach a negotiated agreement, and save as many ticket offices as possible,” he added. According to Lynch, RMT remains “committed to winning a raise, securing future employment and maintaining good working conditions.”
For his part, a spokesman for the country’s train operator Rail Delivery Group said they will work “hard to keep as many services as possible running.”
