Thousands of rail workers to stage fresh strikes over pay, jobs and conditions

Members of the biggest rail workers union are to stage fresh strikes in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said 20,000 of its members in 14 train operators would walk out on August 26 and September 2. The union said it had been left with ‘little choice’ but to take further action as it had seen no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The mood among our members remains solid and determined in our national dispute over pay, job security and working conditions. ‘We have had to call further strike action as we have received no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group. ‘The reason for this is the Government has not allowed them a fresh mandate on which discussions could be held. ‘Our members and our union will continue fighting until we can reach a negotiated and just settlement.’ The 14 train operating companies affected by the new strikes are: Chiltern Railways , Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway , c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).