National rail strike: Teachers and binmen threaten to join railway workers on strike causing chaos not seen since 1970s
BRITAIN is in danger of grinding to a halt this summer as teachers, binmen and posties threaten to join railway workers on strike — causing chaos not seen since the 1970s.
Mick Lynch’s RMT will walk out on three days from tomorrow, costing the hospitality industry £500m.
Militant rail unions will cause misery for millions this week as they go on strike to protect cushy rules which date back 100 YEARS.
Half the railway network will shut down tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday as the RMT stage the biggest walkout since the 1980s.
And there are growing fears devastating strikes will spread across the economy as more unions threaten action.
The RMT admitted they are causing the carnage to protect ancient rules which mean train staff only have to work 35 hours a week — the equivalent of seven hours a day.
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They are refusing to work Sundays as standard.
The barmy rule banning Sunday working dates back to 1919 and means railways have to fork out mega bucks for overtime rates.
Ministers yesterday accused union bosses of “gunning” for strikes which will cause teenagers to miss their GCSE and A-level exams and wreck trade for bars, clubs and shops.
UK Hospitality chief Kate Nicholls said the strikes will cost the tourism, leisure and theatre industries £1billion.
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She added: “This week’s strikes will add misery to many hospitality workers and businesses already struggling to make ends meet.”
And there are growing fears of a de facto general strike this summer.
Teaching unions NASUWT and the NEU have vowed to ballot members unless they get monster pay rises.
Rail unions TSSA and Aslef are threatening strikes.
Hospitals could be plunged into turmoil as healthcare unions Unison, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing are considering action.
Civil servants are holding a ballot this September over pay.
Posties, refuse collectors and lawyers have all either staged, or are considering, strikes.
Labour grandee David Blunkett said the strikes will be a massive own goal for unions as they will enrage Brits.
He told The Sun: “I just think that people need to take a deep breath and stop pretending they are in the 1970s or 1980s and recognise the very different climate and political environment in the 2020s. The one way to lose all support and ensure the re-election of Boris Johnson is to fall into this elephant trap.
“They will not gain substantial pay increases and will simply alienate the very people they need most — the electorate.”
Ahead of the rail strikes, furious Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said yesterday: “This is the last thing we need. It’s jumping the gun. It’s unnecessary. Talks are still ongoing. The ballot took place before the talks on pay had even started.
“It just seems the union is determined to go out on strike, the RMT, come what may. It’s a very sad situation and I call on them to reconsider.”
He said that militant union chiefs like the RMT’s Mick Lynch are trying to “create some sort of class war”.
Mr Shapps added: “I know that Mick Lynch has said he’s nostalgic for the power of the unions in the 1970s when they used to go and have sandwiches in No10. We’re not going back to those days.” Lynch admitted he is calling the strikes because cash-strapped railway bosses want staff to work a bit harder.
He told Sophy Ridge on Sky: “They told us that every single booking office in Britain will close.
“They have told us that they are going to extend the working week from 35 hours to 40 or possibly 44.
“And for new entrants that will mean lower wages, so they are actually proposing pay cuts, not a pay rise and an increase on working time on the railway.” Lynch added darkly: “If there is not a settlement, we will continue our campaign.”
The union, plus bosses at the Rail Delivery Group, representing passenger and freight rail companies, along with Network Rail and HS2, are holding last-ditch talks today to see if they can avert strikes.
But insiders were privately gloomy about the prospect of avoiding the walkout.
And they fear another rail strike will be called next month to clash with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The industry received £16billion of taxpayers’ cash to keep it going during the Covid pandemic, or £600 per household. Yet home working has seen passenger numbers fall off a cliff.
The Treasury has warned the railways it cannot keep pumping cash into the outdated and unreformed industry.
Ticket offices will have to shut and workers become more flexible to trim back costs and get the railways on a sound footing for the new post-Covid era, ministers say.
Tory chairman Oliver Dowden fumed: “The unions’ plan to bring Britain to a standstill by holding strikes across swathes of the economy and our public services is deeply selfish.
“Hard-pressed families and businesses will suffer extra cost and disruption caused by these unnecessary strikes.”
Meanwhile, the National Education Union’s Mary Bousted is writing to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi over a pay boost.
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Ms Bousted said: “The case for a better deal for teachers will be set out in full this Wednesday in our letter to the Secretary of State.
“If it should fall on deaf ears, and teachers are offered a pay rise significantly below inflation, we will proceed to an indicative ballot of members. Teachers have had enough of a government which simply does not value them.”
Q&A: WHAT THE DISPUTE WILL MEAN
WHEN will strikes hit?
Strikes will be held tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday.
How will it affect the UK?
Those who had been planning to get to several major events this week may find they have to find other ways of getting there.
Will there be more strikes?
There are fears the rail strikes could signal a summer of discontent, with teachers and NHS staff following.
What are your rights?
If any part of your journey is cancelled, you will be entitled to a full refund.
What is the financial cost to the economy?
UK Hospitality said the strikes could cost tourism, leisure and theatre “at best” £500million, but could cost more than £1billion.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research reckons the country will lose almost £100million in lost working days.
What is behind the dispute?
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers voted to strike over pay freezes and plans to cut jobs. London Underground RMT members are involved in a separate dispute.
