The
RMT


has
called
another
24-hour
strike
on
2
June,
using
the
powers
it
obtained
after
the
most
recent
ballot
of
its
members
which
approved
further
industrial
action
over
the
next
six
months.

The
union
said
it
had
found
the
Rail
Delivery
Group’s
previous
offer
and
associated
conditions
‘unacceptable’
and
despite
contact
between
the
parties
since
the
strike
on
13
May,
‘no
new
proposals
have
been
formulated
for
the
RMT
to
consider’.

The
RDG,
which
has
turned
down
RMT
calls
for
an
industry
summit
over
the
dispute,
responded:
‘In
recent
discussions
with
the
RMT
we
have
continued
to
stand
by
the
fair,
industry
level
dispute
resolution
proposal
agreed
line
by
line
with
their
negotiating
team,
which
would
have
resolved
this
dispute
and
given
our
lowest
paid
staff
a
rise
of
up
to
13
per
cent.

‘By
calling
more
strike
action
the
RMT
leadership
have
chosen
to
prolong
this
dispute
without
ever
giving
their
members
a
chance
to
have
a
say
on
their
own
offer.
Instead,
they
will
be
subject
to
yet
more
lost
pay
through
industrial
action,
customers
will
suffer
more
disruption,
and
the
industry
will
continue
to
suffer
huge
damage.’

The
Department
for
Transport
added:
‘It’s
extremely
disappointing
that
for
the
second
time
in
a
month,
RMT
has
decided
to
call
strikes
on
the
same
weekend
as
ASLEF
strikes,
going
out
of
their
way
to
make
travelling
by
train
to
the
FA
Cup
final,
Epsom
Derby
and
a
number
of
music
concerts
more
difficult
for
thousands
of
people.

‘The
transport
secretary
and
the
rail
minister
have
facilitated
talks
and
there
continues
to
be
a
fair
and
reasonable
offer
on
the
table,
yet
the
RMT’s
executive
committee’s
actions
will
see
their
members
lose
money
through
strikes,
rather
than
having
the
chance
to
vote
on
the
offer
and
bring
this
dispute
to
an
end.’

The
RMT
has
renewed
its
call
for
the
Rail
Delivery
Group
to
make
a
better
offer.

General
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘The
government
is
once
again
not
allowing
the
Rail
Delivery
Group
to
make
an
improved
offer
that
we
can
consider.

‘Therefore,
we
have
to
pursue
our
industrial
campaign
to
win
a
negotiated
settlement
on
jobs,
pay
and
conditions.

’Ministers
cannot
just
wish
this
dispute
away.

‘They
underestimate
the
strength
of
feeling
our
members
who
have
just
given
us
a
new
six
month
strike
mandate,
continue
to
support
the
campaign
and
the
action
and
are
determined
to
see
this
through
until
we
get
an
acceptable
resolution. 

‘The
government
now
needs
to
unlock
the
RDG
and
allow
them
to
make
an
offer
that
can
be
put
to
a
referendum
of
our
members.’