The
RMT
is
to
stage
more
National
Rail
strikes
in
December
and
January,


after
talks
between
the
union
and
management
had
failed
to
produce
a
new
offer.

The
walkouts
by
40,000
staff
have
been
called
in
pairs
of
48-hour
strikes
separated
by
one
day
in
each
case,
when
disruption
is
also
likely.

They
will
affect
14
train
operators
and
Network
Rail
on
13-14
and
16-17
December,
and
on
3-4
and
6-7
January.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘This
latest
round
of
strikes
will
show
how
important
our
members
are
to
the
running
of
this
country
and
will
send
a
clear
message
that
we
want
a
good
deal
on
job
security,
pay
and
conditions
for
our
people.

‘We
have
been
reasonable,
but
it
is
impossible
to
find
a
negotiated
settlement
when
the
dead
hand
of
government
is
presiding
over
these
talks.

‘The
employers
are
in
disarray
and
saying
different
things
to
different
people,
sometimes
at
the
same
time.
This
whole
process
has
become
a
farce
that
only
the
new
secretary
of
state
can
resolve.
When
I
meet
him
later
this
week,
I
will
deliver
that
message.

‘In
the
meantime,
our
message
to
the
public
is
we
are
sorry
to
inconvenience
you,
but
we
urge
you
to
direct
your
anger
and
frustration
at
the
government
and
railway
employers
during
this
latest
phase
of
action.’

The
Rail
Delivery
Group
responded
by
saying:
‘We
made
real
progress
over
the
last
fortnight
of
talks
and
for
the
first
time
in
months
we
can
see
the
outline
of
a
credible
deal.

‘Further
strikes,
especially
in
the
run
up
to
Christmas,
will
disrupt
the
first
normal
festive
season
our
passengers
have
been
able
to
look
forward
to
since
the
Covid
pandemic,
taking
even
more
money
out
of
the
pockets
of
railway
staff,
and
will
cause
huge
damage
to
the
hospitality
and
retail
sectors
dependent
on
this
time
of
the
year
for
their
businesses.
We
owe
it
to
them
to
stay
round
the
table.

‘Industrial
action
has
already
cost
the
industry
millions
in
lost
revenue,
is
stalling
its
post-pandemic
recovery,
and
threatening
its
long-term
sustainability.

‘We
are
asking
the
RMT
to
stay
at
the
negotiating
table,
work
with
us
towards
a
fair
deal
and
end
a
dispute
that
is
harming
passengers,
the
industry,
and
their
members.’

Meanwhile
many
trains
will
be
cancelled
on
Saturday,
when
members
of
the
drivers’
union
ASLEF
are
set
to
walk
out.