In the UK today, July 27, began the fourth of eight large-scale strikes planned for the summer of railway workers in the country, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. In today’s action organized by the Railway, Maritime and Road Transport Workers’ Union (RMT), participate more than 40,000 people working in the railway infrastructure operator Network Rail, and another 14 rolling stock operators. Among the strikers are both employees of railway stations and technical workers, signalmen, cleaners, security guards and many others.
According to Network Rail, only 20% of the normal rail service will be available during the strike today. The protesters are demanding higher wages to take into account rising inflation, which is now reaching 9.4%, and a sharp increase in the cost of living. During negotiations with the unions, the operating companies offered a 4% pay increase until the end of the year, a proposal that the strikers called “paltry”. Negotiations are ongoing, and if the parties do not come to an agreement, the next one-day strikes will take place on July 30, August 18, 19 and 20. Some of them will be attended by train drivers, as well as other employees of the country’s railways. How declared RMT chief Mick Lynch, “we will negotiate in good faith, but we will not be bullied or deceived.”
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