UK rail strike on Thursday after talks fail

• Second of three one-day strikes planned for Thursday.
• About 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail are set to be taken off work on Thursday after talks fail.
• It was a complete fabrication, according to Andrew Haines, chief executive officer of Network Rail.

The union at the centre of the dispute has announced that the second of three one-day rail UK strike will occur on Thursday, following the breakdown of negotiations to resolve the conflict.

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Mick Lynch, the chairman of the RMT union, criticised Grant Shapps for the standstill in negotiations between the RMT, the train operators, and Network Rail, the infrastructure owner.

Monday, Network Rail informed the RMT in a letter that it will proceed with 1,800 layoffs, “the vast bulk” of which would be voluntary.

“Grant Shapps has wrecked these negotiations by not allowing Network Rail to withdraw their letter threatening redundancy for . . . our members,” he said.

“We will continue with our industrial campaign until we get a negotiated settlement that delivers job security and a pay rise for our members that deals with the escalating cost of living crisis.”

Thursday will be a day off for approximately 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail and the 13 train operators, following a strike on Tuesday during which only about 20% of services ran. Saturday is also scheduled to be a strike day.

It was a complete fabrication, according to Andrew Haines, chief executive officer of Network Rail, that the government was engaged in the decision not to retract the letter.

“There is nothing remotely to justify why they have chosen to walk out . . . it is just absurd.”

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Haines stated that there was a “credible route out” provided the RMT accepted extensive modernizations, especially to maintenance duties. “But they wouldn’t even talk about it,” he said.