Thousands of rail workers to stage walk out this month causing 'significant disruption'

Thousands of workers will stage three days of walk-outs later this month in the biggest outbreak of industrial action in the railway industry in decades. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators will go on strike on June 21, 23 and 25, the union has announced.

Union members voted overwhelmingly for action last month over issues surrounding pay and job losses and the strikes are expected to be the biggest strike on the railways since 1989. The RMT said rail staff who worked through the pandemic were facing pay freezes and hundreds of job cuts.

The RMT also announced another 24-hour strike on London Underground in a separate row over jobs and pensions. Tube workers will strike on June 21 to coincide with the first rail strike, threatening widespread travel chaos.

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The union said more than 50,000 railway workers will walk out on June 21, adding that the action will affect the national railway network for the entire week. The public are being warned that 'significant disruption will be inevitable'.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that despite 'best efforts' in negotiations, concerns haven't been taken serious. He added: "We have a cost of living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1 per cent and rising.

"Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system. RMT is open to meaningful negotiations with rail bosses and ministers, but they will need to come up with new proposals to prevent months of