40,000 rail workers have been striking in response to the UK government cutting jobs and refusing to increase pay in line with inflation

Why are the rail strikes happening?

There are several reasons for the strike. To summarise, rail workers are striking over pay, working conditions and job security.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch describes a landscape of “transport austerity” with thousands of jobs cut across all sectors and below-inflation pay rises for rail workers.

Lynch commented: “It has to be re-stated that the source of these disputes is the decision by the Tory government to cut £4 billion of funding from our transport systems – £2 billion from national rail and £2 billion from Transport for London.”

The General Secretary explains that the Conservative government want to make changes to the Railway Pension Scheme and the TFL scheme by reducing benefits and making staff work for longer whilst paying increased contributions. This means that rail staff will have less money than before in retirement.

Lynch adds that the government plan to “attack” terms, conditions and working practices in the form of internal fire and re-hire and cut real pay for most union members through lengthy pay freezes and below RPI inflation pay proposals.

The pandemic has also played a part. During the pandemic, habits changed. More and more people were able to work from home and since restrictions were lifted, habits have not returned to normal. Many still prefer to work from home. This means fewer commuters and less revenue for train companies. RMT has said action is necessary to reach a “sustainable footing”.

What is the RMT asking for?

With inflation soaring, and the cost of living rocketing, the RMT is asking for a pay rise to mitigate rising costs for its members.

Since inflation is heading towards an 11% increase, the union wants a rise of 7% and has already rejected a Network Rail offer of a 2% rise with a further 1% tied to job cuts.

It should be noted that in 2021, Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines received an annual wage of £585,000, Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Westlake made £415,000 and Route ­Services Managing Director Susan Cooklin took home £385,000. Meanwhile, Network Rail is advertising customer service assistant and station control assistant roles that pay just £20,000.

In other words, the top ten highest paid people at Network Rail make £3.68 million each year.

What has been the government’s response to the rail strikes?

The government has urged the unions to scrap the action.

Boris Johnson has called the rail strikes unnecessary: “I just think it is important to remember that these strikes are unnecessary. I think people should get around the table and sort it out.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson commented: “Strikes should always be the last resort, not the first, so it is hugely disappointing and premature that the RMT is going ahead with industrial action.

“The government committed £16bn – to keep our railways running throughout the pandemic while ensuring not a single worker lost their job.

“The railway is still on life support, with passenger numbers 25% down and anything that drives away even more of them risks killing services and jobs.”

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, on the other hand, has said: “[Workers] are paying the price for Tory anti-trade union rhetoric, in fact, anti-trade unionism which I completely deprecate.

“We should respect worker’s across the economy. We should respect public sector workers and we should seek to negotiate a fair resolution to disputes, particularly at a time of inflation – inflation being exacerbated in the UK by the folly of Brexit.”

Sturgeon has also lambasted the introduction of a new law that will allow agency workers to plug staffing gaps in industrial action. She argues that the new law is only “inflaming” the issue and concludes that it is the workers who are paying the price.