Rail staff announce ANOTHER two days of strike July 25, 2022 Members of the union TSSA working as station and operational staff at seven rail companies have called for another two days of strike. The industrial action will take place on 18 and 20 August and will impact services on Avanti West Coast, c2c, East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, LNER, and Southeastern. Meanwhile, workers [...]
Avert economic damage rail strikes will cause, say London businesses July 25, 2022 London businesses have called on unions, operators and the government to find a solution to the ongoing railway strikes “and avert the economic damage” they will cause. “The week-long rail disruption in June caused footfall in the capital to drop by up to a quarter compared to the previous week,” Ruth Duston – chief executive [...]
Rail union boss Mick Lynch warns strikes could ‘last for months’ July 24, 2022 Crippling strikes are likely to last for months longer if rail companies do not make improved pay offers for its workers, rail union boss Mick Lynch has said. Lynch, secretary-general of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), today also warned there likely would be a “rolling campaign of trade union activity” [...]
Rail union reissues strike ballots after first vote misses legal threshold July 21, 2022 The union TSSA has reissued ballots for strike action at four train operators after earlier votes didn’t reach the legal threshold for walking out. The ballots will be held at West Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia, Northern and TransPennine Express from 28 July to 25 August. The initial ballots gave the union a mandate for action [...]
Government repeals ‘1970s-style’ restrictions on strikebreakers July 21, 2022 Replacing striking staff with skilled agency workers will now be possible under the legal changes made by the UK Government. Approved by both Commons and Lords, the cross-sector changes will help ensure “crucial public services and people’s lives remain uninterrupted” by the strikes. The measure comes on the heels of a wave of industrial action [...]
Sigh of relief for Londoners as ALL long-running strikes on Night Tube suspended July 21, 2022 Long-running strikes on London’s Night Tube have been suspended. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have been taking industrial action over weekends in a dispute over shifts. “We are pleased that after our strong industrial campaign, we have made significant progress on the Night Tube dispute,” said RMT’s general secretary Mick Lynch. [...]
Rail can’t take more than its fair share, says head of new trade body July 20, 2022 The railway sector can’t take more than its fair share from both fare and tax payers, according to Andy Bagnall, chief executive of the new trade body Rail Partners. “Train companies want to give their people a pay rise, but it has to be affordable and in the context of restoring the railway to a [...]
Rail strike on 27 July: Brits face zero services on some train lines July 20, 2022 Network Rail has warned passengers that limited to no services will run on 27 July, the first of an additional three-day strike called by the union RMT last week. The government-owned operator said that – while “specially-trained back-up staff” will keep vital services running on the day – timetables will be cut down to 20 [...]
Rail operators and freight firms create coalition to transform UK railways July 20, 2022 A consortium of rail and freight operating firms have clubbed together with a prospectus to transform Britain’s railways. The launch of Rail Partners was welcomed by rail minister Wendy Morton, as the industry sets out five key priorities for reform – including the sector’s decarbonisation and the role of Great British Railways moving forward. Made [...]
Last orders? Bittersweet summer for pubs as rising costs out-shadow post-pandemic demand July 20, 2022 Packed beer gardens herald the arrival of summer in Britain. For publicans, this summer presents a chance to rebuild after two years’ of Covid-19 restrictions battering trade. Yet, with inflation surpassing 40-year highs and strike action threatening to severe revellers’ passages into city centres, will publicans be able to make up for those long, lost [...]