London, July 27 (BNA): Britain’s rail network faced major disruption again on Wednesday as staff pulled out in a row over wages and conditions, the latest in a wave of industrial unrest as wages failed to keep pace with soaring inflation.
Reuters reports that the 24-hour strike by more than 40,000 members of the RMT and TSSA unions has forced about half of Britain’s rail network to shut down, with train companies operating on significantly shorter schedules and some parts of the country without rail service. iron at all.
Network Rail has urged passengers, including commuters, families going on summer holidays and sports fans on their way to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting on Thursday, to travel only if necessary.
Changing work practices during the coronavirus pandemic meant that many office workers were able to choose to work from home.
Last month’s strike brought Britain’s rail network to a near three-day standstill, and just last week some major lines running across the country were forced to shut down when record temperatures damaged the track.
“Our members are more determined than ever to secure adequate pay increases, job security and good working conditions,” RMT Secretary General Mick Lynch said in a statement.
“Network Rail has not made any improvement over the previous payment offering and the rail companies have not brought us anything new.”
The RMT union said it received an offer of a 4% increase, followed by a potential 4% the following year depending on employees accepting changes to their contracts.
Inflation in Britain has reached its highest level in 40 years and is expected to reach more than 10 later this year, driven by rising fuel and food prices.
High inflation and more than 10 years of stagnant real wages have triggered Britain’s worst cost-of-living crisis since records began in the 1950s, exacerbating labor tensions in all sectors including the postal services, health, schools, airports and the judiciary.
It has also become a sticking point in the race to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister, with the last two candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, vowing to quell the strike.
The government last week changed the law to make it easier for companies to use temporary employees to lessen the impact of the strike.
Ferry services to Cowes on the Isle of Wight will also be disrupted on Wednesday due to the strike, and a new train strike is expected on Saturday.
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