THOUSANDS of railway workers are staging their second strike of the week after talks failed to resolve a row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Today's rail strikes have gone ahead after last-ditch talks failed on Wednesday, with the country set to be plunged into chaos once more.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators have taken industrial action, crippling services across the UK.
Only around one in five trains will run and mainly on main lines during the day.
Ahead of the strike, the Government announced plans to change the law to enable businesses to supply skilled agency workers to plug staffing gaps during industrial action.
Ministers pointed out that under current trade union laws, employment businesses are restricted from supplying temporary agency workers to cover for strikers, saying it can have a "disproportionate impact".
The legislation will repeal the "burdensome" legal restrictions, giving businesses impacted by strike action the freedom to tap into the services of employment businesses who can provide skilled, temporary agency staff at short notice, said the government.
Network Rail welcomed the move but Labour and unions condemned it as a "recipe for disaster."
Read our rail strike 2022 live blog below for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Labour condemns Government plans as 'a recipe for disaster'
The Government announced plans to change the law to enable businesses to supply skilled agency workers to plug staffing gaps during industrial action.
Ministers pointed out that, under current trade union laws, employment businesses are restricted from supplying temporary agency workers to cover for strikers, saying it can have a "disproportionate impact".
The Government said the legislation will repeal the "burdensome" legal restrictions, giving companies affected by strike action the freedom to tap into the services of employment businesses which can provide skilled, temporary agency staff at short notice.
Network Rail welcomed the move but Labour and unions condemned it as a "recipe for disaster".
- Joseph Gamp
More rail chaos as second strike of the week begins
Train services are being disrupted across Britain as thousands of railway workers stage their second strike of the week.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 13 train operators walked out after talks failed to resolve a bitter row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Just one in five trains will run on Thursday, and lines will only be open between 7.30am and 6.30pm, meaning services will start later and finish earlier than usual.
Trains will mostly be restricted to main lines, with around half of the network closed.
- Lauren Lomas
How much do train drivers earn?
Train drivers earn more than nurses and care workers.
During a Parliamentary debate, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The median salary for a train driver is £59,000.”
This is significantly more than what nurses earn on average, £31,000 and care workers at £21,000.
However, it is not just train drivers striking, there are around 40,000 workers striking across all departments this week.
- Lauren Lomas
What are the rail strikers asking for?
With the rail strike going ahead this week, plunging much of the UK’s transport services into chaos, the RMT Union has outlined what exactly it hopes to achieve.
In a statement, the union said: “We want a transport system that operates for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment – not for private profit.”
In practice their demands would see rail workers get a seven per cent pay increase, to rise with inflation.
The average salary of a train driver is £54,000 per year – a seven per cent rise on that would see them raking in £57,780.
Moreover, the union believes many workers were wrongfully let go during Covid, so they are asking for stronger job security.
- Lauren Lomas
Labour frontbenchers joined the picket line
It is likely those who joined will be disciplined for their actions.
Leader Keir Starmer told Labour party members not to join the RMT picket line.
However three front benchers defied his wishes and joined in solidarity with the workers on Tuesday morning.
It is likely they may hit backlash for their actions by the Labour party.
- Lauren Lomas
That will be £1,500 please
As strikes ravage the UK transport system, some cabbies have been met with some outlandish request.
One Scottish cab driver was asked how much the drive from Glasgow to London would be.
The fee? Just the small price of £1,500.
- Lauren Lomas
Keir Starmer SLAMS Boris Johnson saying he ‘hasn’t lifted a finger’
Labour leader Keir Starmer has called out Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not helping amid the rail chaos.
During the PMQ’s today, Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson was too busy “blaming others” and not taking action to help.
Keir said: “If he’s genuine about preventing strikes, could the Prime Minister tell this house how many meetings he or his Transport Secretary have had with rail workers this week to actually stop the strikes?”
- Lauren Lomas
How much do train drivers earn?
Train drivers earn more than nurses and care workers.
During a Parliamentary debate, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The median salary for a train driver is £59,000.”
This is significantly more than what nurses earn on average, £31,000 and care workers at £21,000.
However, it is not just train drivers striking, there are around 40,000 workers striking across all departments this week.
- Lauren Lomas
What are the rail strikers asking for?
With the rail strike going ahead this week, plunging much of the UK’s transport services into chaos, the RMT Union has outlined what exactly it hopes to achieve.
In a statement, the union said: “We want a transport system that operates for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment – not for private profit.”
In practice their demands would see rail workers get a seven per cent pay increase, to rise with inflation.
The average salary of a train driver is £54,000 per year – a seven per cent rise on that would see them raking in £57,780.
Moreover, the union believes many workers were wrongfully let go during Covid, so they are asking for stronger job security.
- Lauren Lomas
Boris blasts striking workers
In a statement given this week, the PM has criticised striking rail workers.
“The unions are harming the very people they claim to be helping,” he said.
“By going ahead with these rail strikes, they are driving away commuters who ultimately support the jobs of rail workers, while also impacting businesses and communities across the country.
“Too-high demands on pay will also make it incredibly difficult to bring to an end the current challenges facing families around the world with rising costs of living.”
- Lauren Lomas
Talks to quit the strike continue as chief negotiator said strikes don’t help
The Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said there is “still time” to come to an agreement.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “It’s really important we continue to stress the fact there is no need to have a strike. It doesn’t help.”
He spoke on the major financial problems a strike brings about.
He told the BBC: “The fact there is a strike means that we lose money in the industry, as well as upsetting out passengers and causing disruption to the wider economy.”
- Lauren Lomas
How many workers are striking this week?
As rail workers fight for better pay, the UK has been sent into chaos.
It is thought around 40,000 National Rail staff have ditched work this week to join the picket line.
- Lauren Lomas
RMT invited to formal talks on July 1 to discuss working practices
Network Rail (NR) has asked the biggest rail workers’ union to attend formal consultation talks next month on introducing “modern working practices”.
A letter was handed to Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), at the end of talks on Monday evening.
Meetings were held throughout the day but failed to avert three days of strikes by RMT members which crippled train services on Tuesday and will be repeated on Thursday and Saturday.
The letter, written by Paul Rutter of NR, says: “We have always made clear to you that we needed to make material progress in these discussions and that we needed to implement meaningful changes to working practices by April 2023.
“I am still hopeful that we can agree a way forward. We cannot, however, delay any longer and with that in mind we intend to consult formally with you on the implementation of changes to a number of working practices which we believe can be changed within the existing agreements and T&Cs (terms and conditions) under which our Maintenance and Works Delivery staff are employed.
“We will also press ahead with consultation on the implementation of certain technologies in order to make the railway a safer and more efficient workplace.
“Whilst we do not believe that we need the agreement from our trade unions to make these changes, we would much prefer to implement them with your agreement and co-operation.”
- henry moore
Will strikes take place tomorrow?
Despite a lack of strikes today, Brits were still faced with travel chaos, as the impact of yesterday's strikes continued to hit.
Tomorrow, you should brace for another day of strikes, as the RMT continues to battle the government.
Strikes will also take place on Saturday.
- henry moore
Former Tory chancellor warns that more strikes will follow if rail chaos succeeds
Ken Clarke, the former chancellor of the Tory party, has claimed if RMT’s strikes are a success, more will soon follow.
He told the BBC: “I’m afraid it cannot be allowed to look successful when it settles because as we have already heard, the rest of the public sector who are comparatively underpaid compared with railwaymen.
“On this occasion if the pay settlement is say 10, 11 per cent, then you are going to have vast amounts of the public sector induced to go in for the same militancy, the same strike action in order to demand at least the same.”
- henry moore
What are the rail strikers asking for?
With the rail strike going ahead this week, plunging much of the UK’s transport services into chaos, the RMT Union has outlined what exactly it hopes to achieve.
In a statement, the union said: “We want a transport system that operates for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment – not for private profit.”
In practice their demands would see rail workers get a seven per cent pay increase, to rise with inflation.
The average salary of a train driver is £54,000 per year – a seven per cent rise on that would see them raking in £57,780.
Moreover, the union believes many workers were wrongfully let go during Covid, so they are asking for stronger job security.
- henry moore
NHS worker pays £45 to get to work amid rail strikes
As rail strikes ravage the country, one NHS worker was forced to spend £45 getting to work this morning.
Another NHS worker responded, claiming Uber had charged him £50 for a short journey.
An Uber spokesperson told the Mirror: “As a result of the strike action currently taking place on the National Rail and London Underground network, we have capped the level that prices can surge, and all users are shown the price of their trip before they book.
“We are also working hard to ensure that there are enough drivers out on the road to match demand.”EditDelete
- henry moore
Raab says Government ‘had to hold the line’ against RMT’s demands
Dominic Raab said the Government had to “hold the line” against the RMT’s demands for improved pay and conditions on the railways.
The Justice Secretary said the strikes were “deeply regrettable” and reform was necessary on the railways.
“We’ve, of course, got to reform the way the railways operate, given the new ways to working on the effect that has on commuter travel,” he told LBC Radio. “But there are also old practices, which frankly, are well out of date and unnecessary, which need to be reformed.”
He added: “I think Network Rail are taking the right approach. We know that the cost of living challenge is there, we know that it affects workers across the board.
“But the one thing that will keep inflation higher for longer and undermine pay packets for longer is if we have spiralling public sector pay increases beyond what is responsible. And that’s what’s at issue here.
“It is precisely to protect the wages of those on the lowest incomes that we need to hold the line.”
- henry moore
Network Rail could see job cuts as a result of a pay raise
Yesterday Network Rail’s Tim Shoveller said it could mean a “vast majority” will be lost.
While the RMT has been pushing for a pay raise of seven per cent, it has bee speculated that if a pay raise is given, more jobs could be lost.
Mr Shoveller said changes would mean: “dumping outdated working practices and introducing new technology.
“We expect this will reduce rolls by around 1,800.”
- henry moore
Only 60% of 20,000 services operating today
Not very many trains are running today, with all UK services in 60 per cent operation.
Brits will see severe delays on the London Underground.
- Lauren Lomas
Brits experience delays at Stanstead airport
Not only is there chaos at the train stations, but airports have been hit too.
Brits have been queuing for a refreshing drink at Wetherspoons in Stansted airport after flight delays set them back.
It is thought the airport will bring back Emirates flights for the summer holidays.
Travellers were snapped kipping on the floor as the airport becomes over crowded.
Busy with holidaymakers trying to get away as airport becomes extremely crowded with huge queues for Wetherspoons as people experienced delaysCredit: pixel8000
- Lauren Lomas
FURTHER travel CHOAS as oil spills on the M25
Brits are in for 12 mile queues as multiple lanes closed.
Those travelling on the M25 might be hit with delays of 90 minutes, it has been reported.
National Highways are in attendance to try to clear the spillage.
It is in lane two between J2 and J3 and covers an area of approximately 1500 metres of the carriageway.
Those travelling from Essex to Kent via the Dartford Crossing are being told to give themselves plenty of time.
- Lauren Lomas
Labour frontbenchers join the picket line
It is likely those who joined will be disciplined for their actions.
Leader Keir Starmer told Labour party members not to join the RMT picket line.
However three front benchers defied his wishes and joined in solidarity with the workers on Tuesday morning.
It is likely they may hit backlash for their actions by the Labour party.
- Lauren Lomas
That will be £1,500 please
As strikes ravage the UK transport system, some cabbies have been met with some outlandish request.
One Scottish cab driver was asked how much the drive from Glasgow to London would be.
The fee? Just the small price of £1,500.
- Lauren Lomas
Keir Starmer SLAMS Boris Johnson saying he 'hasn't lifted a finger'
Labour leader Keir Starmer has called out Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not helping amid the rail chaos.
During the PMQ's today, Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson was too busy "blaming others" and not taking action to help.
Keir said: "If he's genuine about preventing strikes, could the Prime Minister tell this house how many meetings he or his Transport Secretary have had with rail workers this week to actually stop the strikes?"
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