Commuter chaos as two 48-hour strikes set for this week after RMT reject latest pay offer – with Christmas also hit
CHRISTMAS has been ruined for thousands of Brits as rail workers today confirmed they WILL strike throughout the festive season.
RMT union members will walk out of stations across the country tomorrow and Wednesday, before doing so again on Friday and Saturday.
And in a major blow to those wanting to unite with loved ones at Christmas, industrial action will also happen from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27.
The strikes are happening because of a massive dispute between the RMT and employer Network Rail, covering pay and working conditions.
In its most recent bid to end the stalemate, Network Rail offered workers a 5 per cent hike this year followed by a 4 per cent rise in 2023.
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But in a ballot today 63.6 per cent of union members rejected the offer on a turnout of 83 per cent.
RMT Chief Mick Lynch blasted: "The government is refusing to lift a finger to prevent these strikes and it is clear they want to make effective strike action illegal in Britain.
"We will resist that and our members, along with the entire trade union movement will continue their campaign for a square deal for workers, decent pay increases and good working conditions."
Hitting back, Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines warned Mr Lynch needs to think "long and hard about what to do next".
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"Further strike action will cause further misery for the rail industry and for their members who will lose pay," he said.
"This news is especially frustrating given that we learnt today that colleagues represented by Unite union have accepted the very same offer put to RMT members."
Today's ballot comes as 100,000 nurses are set to walk out this Thursday and the following Tuesday.
Royal College of Nursing union members are striking over pay after asking for an inflation-busting hike of 19 per cent.
In the latest round of negotiations, the government offered a backdated 5 per cent rise this year and 4 per cent from January.
But the union rejected the offer.
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Health Secretary Steve Barclay is due to meet RCN Chief Pat Cullen today in a last ditch effort to halt the strike.
Meanwhile, posties, ambulance workers and border force staff are all staging rolling industrial action too - wrecking Christmas parties and travel plans and clobbering businesses.
Around 750 British troops are on standby to drive ambulances if emergency workers walk out as planned.
Troops will also help man border check stations at airports across Britain.