The
RMT


has
called
three
more
24-hour
strikes
on
most
train
operators
in
England,
as
the
year-long
dispute
over
pay
and
conditions
continues.

The
new
walkouts
are
to
be
staged
on
20,
22
and
29
July,
and
are
set
to
create
major
disruption
once
again.
The
drivers’
union
ASLEF
has
already
called
an
overtime
ban
from
3
to
8
July.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘This
latest
phase
of
action
will
show
the
country
just
how
important
railway
staff
are
to
the
running
of
the
rail
industry.
My
team
of
negotiators
and
I
are
available
24/7
for
talks
with
the
train
operating
companies
and
government
ministers.
Yet
quite
incredibly
neither
party
has
made
any
attempt
whatsoever
to
arrange
any
meetings
or
put
forward
a
decent
offer
that
can
help
us
reach
a
negotiated
solution.

‘The
government
continues
to
shackle
the
companies
and
will
not
allow
them
to
put
forward
a
package
that
can
settle
this
dispute.
Our
members
have
now
voted
three
times
to
take
strike
action
over
the
last
12
months
–
the
most
of
recent
of
which
coincided
with
having
the
full
details
of
the
substandard
offer
from
the
rail
operators.

’They
voted
by
9
to
1
to
renew
their
strike
mandate
and
RMT
will
continue
its
industrial
campaign
until
we
reach
a
negotiated
settlement
on
pay,
working
conditions
and
job
security.’

The
Department
for
Transport
said:
‘The
RMT
leadership’s
decision
to
call
strikes
targeting
two
iconic
international
sporting
events,
as
children
and
families
begin
their
summer
holidays,
will
disrupt
people’s
plans
across
the
country.
After
a
year
of
industrial
action,
passengers
and
rail
workers
alike
are
growing
tired
of
union
bosses
playing
politics
with
their
lives.
It’s
high
time
the
union
leaders
realised
that
strikes
no
longer
have
the
impact
they
once
did
and
are
simply
driving
people
away
from
the
railway.

‘This
Government
has
played
its
part
by
facilitating
fair
and
reasonable
pay
offers
that
would
see
generous
increases
for
rail
workers.
Union
leaders
should
do
the
right
thing
and
give
their
members
a
chance
to
vote
on
these
pay
offers.’