RAILWAY workers who are taking strike action are 'fighting for the future of our industry' according to RMT regional boss, Craig Johnstone.

The RMT, ASLEF AND TSSA unions are all taking strike action today, causing widespread disruption across the rail network.

Avanti West Coast have cancelled all services on Saturday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 5 and other rail operators are running severely reduced services throughout the weekend.

“They’re looking at closing ticket offices in Carlisle and Workington, an increase in driver only operations, a massive increase in weekend hours and overtime and they’re offering nothing in return” said Mr Johnstone, RMT relief regional organiser for the North.

“We’ve been forced into this position at a time when inflation and the cost-of-living are through the roof.”

“We haven’t had a pay rise for three years and we’re not to blame for the current economic crisis.”

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Rail workers have undertaken industrial action throughout the summer over a long-running dispute over pay, working conditions and job security.

A pay rise has been offered to workers under the proviso that changes will be made to how the network is staffed, changes which the unions have said are 'unacceptable'.

“We’re willing to take a pay rise that is a little under inflation but that must come with job security for every worker,” said Mr Johnstone.

“The industry is a mess, and no one is happy at the moment – we don’t want to be on strike and losing pay on strike days, but we’ve been pushed into a corner.”

This summer has seen a rise in the level of industrial action taken by unions with the promise of more to come into the winter with the Communications Worker’s Union (CWU) announcing that postal workers will take 19 days of industrial action on the run up to Christmas.

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Talks to avoid the latest round of strike action proved ultimately unsuccessful and the planned action will take place today and next week, but Mr Johnstone says there is hope for an end to the struggle.

“On an optimistic not, the new Tory Transport minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has been willing to get round the table and talk to us but we’ve got paralysis right at the heart of government,” Johnstone said.

“We had to wait for Boris to leave office and now the economic crisis means we’re looking for a chance to talk with the government, but no one knows where we are at the moment.”

In a statement, Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “We want to give our employees a decent pay rise.

"It isn’t fair to ask taxpayers or passengers to fund this so we must fund it ourselves, which is achievable if the unions work with us to modernise and run the railway more efficiently.

“Our latest offer – an 8 per cent pay rise over two years with other benefits – is affordable from within our own budget, but the RMT refuses to allow its members to vote on it.

"The decision by unions to strike again serves only to prolong disruption for passengers, undermine the railway’s recovery from the pandemic and ensure railway staff forgo even more of their pay unnecessarily.

“Our efforts to avert this disruption have unfortunately been in vain, so we’re asking passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary on strike days.

"Those who must travel should expect disruption and make sure they check when their last train will depart.”

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