RMT announces fresh train strikes after rejecting latest offer

Over 40,000 members across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will walk out on 16, 18, 20 of March and 1 April, as well as a ban on overtime lasting six weeks in maintenance and operations.

Staff have been offered a 9% pay increase in total, with 5% backdated to January 2022, but the agreement contains “modernisation”, which the RMT believes is a back door to lower conditions and job cuts.

General secretary Mick Lynch said on Thursday: "Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security.

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"Therefore, our members will now take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months.

"The government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies.

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"However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban.

"Ministers cannot continue to sit on their hands hoping this dispute will go away as our members are fully prepared to fight tooth and nail for a negotiated settlement in the months ahead."