UK public services struggling despite near 70-year tax high, report warns February 23, 2023 UK public services can no longer match people’s expectations despite the tax burden being on course to hit a 70-year high, a think tank report has warned. Government decisions to date have done “little to shift the dial,” the Institute for Government (IfG) and CIPFA warned today in their latest performance tracker on the state-run [...]
Strikes: RMT workers to stage another walkout over pay, jobs and conditions February 17, 2023 Rail workers are to stage a series of fresh strikes in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Rail, Martine and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on March 16, 18 and 30, and April 1, at 14 train operators. The union’s members at Network Rail will strike on March 16 and will [...]
Network Rail hits back at ‘regretful’ RMT claim linking modernisation proposals to tragedy February 16, 2023 Network Rail’s plans to modernise maintenance will improve safety for workers, as it hit out at the RMT union for its “regretful” linking of proposals to a tragedy almost 20 years ago. NR strongly denied claims by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union that it had a cost-cutting agenda, as its boss Mick Lynch invoked [...]
SSP: Upper Crust owner’s UK recovery hampered by rail strikes as commuters stop buying baguettes February 16, 2023 Upper Crust owner SSP has seen the recovery in its UK arm hampered by repeated waves of strike action across railway networks. The company, which runs food outlets at transport sites such as airports and railway stations, revealed the performance of its UK and Ireland business lagged behind other regions globally due to train strike [...]
Rail and postal strikes ‘decimated’ festive trade with worst impact for a decade February 14, 2023 London’s festive economy was “decimated” by rail and postal strikes, as new figures revealed the disruption caused by walkouts was the worst month on record since 2011. Around 843,000 working days were lost to strike action in December – the highest for more than a decade – according to official figures from the Office for [...]
Union rejects ‘dreadful’ pay deal as Lynch promises to prolong strike misery February 11, 2023 The biggest rail workers’ union has rejected what the Transport Secretary has described as the “best and final offers” aimed at resolving the long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions. Mark Harper described the move by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) to reject the proposals from Network Rail and the train operating companies [...]
More strikes coming? Rail union RMT rejects ‘dreadful’ new offer from Network Rail and train firms February 10, 2023 The biggest rail workers’ union has rejected the latest offers from Network Rail and the train operating companies aimed at resolving the long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said that following a wide-ranging consultation with every level of the union involved in the national rail dispute, its [...]
Rail: Inquiry launched into anti-strike bill amid concerns about minimum service level proposal February 9, 2023 The Commons’ transport select committee has launched an inquiry into how the controversial anti-strike bill will apply to the railway sector – with a focus on the demand for minimum service levels. The legislation – which is having its second reading in the Lords on 21 February – will guarantee minimum service levels during strike [...]
100,000 civil servants to walk out on Budget Day, union says February 7, 2023 Around 100,000 civil servants are set to strike on Budget Day, their union has announced, amid a campaign of walkouts over pay disputes. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it was escalating action after a “lack of movement” from the government over its concerns over pay, pensions and job security. Walkouts will take [...]
Avanti not ‘out of the woods yet’ as contract renewal decision looms February 6, 2023 Avanti West Coast is not “out of the woods yet”, a top MP has warned, as the government decides whether to renew the operator’s contract. Rail minister Huw Merriman has said he will make a decision on Avanti’s contract soon, with the extension set to expire in April. Merriman said it will be based “on [...]