Birmingham, England
More than 20,000 members of the UK Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, made up of 14 railway companies, went on strike on Thursday, July 20, over a long-running dispute over working conditions, wages, safety and employment.
The strike came after company chiefs announced more than 2,000 job cuts and the closure of 1,000 ticket offices across the country’s rail network.
National Rail has warned commuters that large areas of the rail network may have little or no services.
Although operators are based in England, some of them provide services in Wales and Scotland.
“I am proud of our members for showing such strength and determination in this long-running dispute. Our members and union will not be intimidated by railway chiefs or government ministers, and our dispute will continue until we can reach a negotiated agreement.” RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch noted.
The union said more strikes were scheduled for July 22-29.
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British travelers will face more disruption in the coming days.
Drivers who are members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firefighters (ASLEF) will not work overtime for 15 train companies between July 17 and 22.
The ASLEF action is not a full-blown strike, but it may cause reduced hours and last-minute cancellations.
Railway strikes began in June 2022 after RMT members walked out over wages and planned changes to work practices.
Disputes in Scotland and Wales were settled by the RMT in December 2022 and by the ASLEF in May 2023, while in England the dispute continues to this day.
* Aisha Sandoval Alaguna contributed to this note.
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