MPs have slammed RMT union baron Mick Lynch for ‘ruining Christmas’ after he sparked further festive chaos by announcing more strikes from December 24 to 27, in new wave of walkouts to cripple train services this winter.
Former levelling-up secretary Simon Clarke called the decision ‘dreadful’, while Transport Secretary Mark Harper dubbed it ‘disappointing’.
Union boss Mr Lynch announced the additional dates this evening, and reaffirmed the strikes in January.
‘I am sure the travelling public will be really disappointed and irritated and angry,’ Mr Lynch said at a press conference. But he added that ‘there has been no improved offer presented to his union’ and that they have ‘no choice’ as the current offer is ‘extremely detrimental’.
Mr Harper said: ‘It’s incredibly disappointing that, despite a new and improved deal offering job security and a fair pay rise, the RMT is not only continuing with upcoming industrial action but has called more strikes over Christmas.
‘The Government has played its part by facilitating a fair and decent offer but, by instructing its members to reject it, the RMT has failed to play its part and our rail network now faces more harmful disruption rather than helpful discussion.’
Mr Clarke tweeted: ‘This is dreadful by the RMT – ruining people’s Christmases with an eight per cent pay rise over two years on the table (and no compulsory redundancies).
‘The railway received £16 billion — £600/household — in emergency funding during Covid and drivers’ median salary is £59k, staff’s is £44k.’
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27 and will press ahead with two 48-hour strikes next week.
The union announced it will put the latest offer from Network Rail (NR) to its members, with a recommendation to reject.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Lynch said: ‘The RMT union today has decided to put a new offer from Network Rail to members in an electronic referendum with a recommendation to reject the proposals from Network Rail.
‘That referendum will close on Monday, December 12, at noon. All the strike action that we’ve got planned in December will go ahead as planned, as will the action in January.’
