Rail strikes in June: RMT announce 24-hour and 48-hour walkouts

The rail workers union has rejected a pay offer deal

Rail workers are set to strike next month after the RMT union rejected a new pay offer from Network Rail.

Staff will stage 24-hour and 48-hour walkouts in June in a continuing row over wages.

The 24-hour strike is expected to take place on June 4, from 5pm, and the 48-hour walkout will begin at 5pm on June 9.

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A previous 24-hour strike, which was initially planned to take place on Bank Holiday Monday last week, was suspended at the eleventh hour by the union's executive when Network Rail offered a new deal.

An original offer was a four-year deal of a single £500 payment followed by three years of rises in line with RPI inflation.

The new offer was for two years, with a 1 per cent rise this year and 1.4 per cent next year - with no compulsory redundancies for the duration of the agreement.

Union reps met on Thursday to discuss the offer but it was rejected - resulting in the announcement of fresh strikes.

“The solidarity and determination of members in the dispute has been incredible and I urge you to keep this up and stand shoulder to shoulder with your colleagues on the days of action," the RMT said in a statement on their website.

“It is abundantly clear from the views of your reps at the meeting that Network Rail’s offer simply isn’t good enough and we demand nothing less than a substantial improvement.”

Mick Cash, general secretary of the rail union, told the BBC they had been left with "no option" but to start the industrial action.

"The last thing that we need is a demoralised, burnt-out workforce living in fear for their livelihoods and their futures," he said.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union include signallers and maintenance workers. Fresh strikes could cause widespread disruption to rail networks across the country.

RMT also announced there will be a ban on working overtime between 6 and 12 June.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which also suspended a Bank Holiday strike, said it will ballot its members on the new pay offer, the Evening Standard reported.

The result of the ballot will be announced on June 13.