UK rail workers to strike on July 27 after rejecting ‘paltry’ pay offer

UK railway workers will hold another 24-hour strike later this month, after the RMT union rejected a “paltry” pay offer from the industry and promised to continue the dispute “for as long as it takes”.

The union said staff across both Network Rail and train operating companies would take industrial action for a single day on Wednesday, July 27, in the latest disruption to hit the network this summer.

The rail network came to a standstill across many parts of the country when the RMT held a wave of strikes last month, and even on the busiest lines only around a fifth of services were able to operate.

The RMT said it would speak to two other unions whose members have also voted for strikes, raising the potential for co-ordinated industrial action causing disruption over several days.

Aslef, the driver’s union, and TSSA, which represents managers and supervisors, both have mandates for strike action after holding separate ballots, but have yet to announce when their staff will walk out.

In deciding to strike for a second time, the RMT rejected a pay offer of more than 5 per cent from Network Rail. The offer included no compulsory redundancies but was conditional on far-reaching reforms.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: “The offer from Network Rail represents a real terms pay cut for our members and the paltry sum is conditional on RMT members agreeing to drastic changes in their working lives.”

The train operating companies were “stubborn” and yet to make a formal pay offer, the RMT said.