RMT writes to MPs as 20,000 railway workers strike

In the letter, Mr Lynch accuses the government of deliberately “squandering billions of pounds on a futile war against the rail unions” and demanding that parliamentarians write to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to insist the government facilitate an improved offer that “will protect staffing and services and deliver a fairer deal for rail workers.”

Mr Lynch writes:

“There is further strike action on the railways on Friday because workers, passengers and taxpayers are being asked to pay the price for the government’s disastrous mismanagement of the economy and public transport.

Rather than deliver a plan to improve public transport and the economy, we have seen three Prime Ministers preside over a year of chaos since the first strike action in June 2022.

In contrast, there is no strike action on railways controlled by the Scottish and Welsh governments because these governments have adopted a fair and less ideological approach to industrial relations.

Instead of working to end the dispute, amidst a cost-of-living crisis it appears to have no idea how to tackle, the UK government has spent the last year squandering billions of pounds on a futile war against the rail unions, all in the name of delivering reforms that passengers do not want.

The cumulative cost of this disastrous strategy is now estimated at £5 billion.

Whilst passengers want more assistance and support the government are insisting there must be less staff on stations and trains.

While businesses and unions want an agreement, the government insist the cost to the economy of strike action is a price worth paying.

While the public want transport run in the public interest, the government are protecting the vested interests and vast profits of the privatised railway.

After an overwhelming vote for strike action by RMT members, the first strikes took place in June 2022.

Since that time RMT members have delivered their verdict on the government’s mismanagement of the dispute by again, twice, voting overwhelmingly for strike action.

As we reach the anniversary of the first strike action, I would urge you to write to the Prime Minister to demand the government change course and facilitate an improved offer that will protect staffing and services and deliver a fairer deal for rail workers.”