Workers at the rail and network operators will go on a 24-hour strike on July 27 in a wage dispute, the RMT union has announced.
The news comes after the union rejected a payment offer from Network Rail, which it described as “minimal”, and after three railway strikes last month that paralyzed services across the country.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Network Rail’s offer represents a real pay cut for our members and the negligible sum is conditional on RMT members accepting drastic changes in their working lives.
“We have made progress on mandatory redundancies, but Network Rail is still looking to make our members poorer when we have in some cases earned twice as much as they offer, with other rail operators.
“Train companies are stubborn and refuse to make any new offers that deal with job security and pay.
“The strike action is the only way open to make it clear to both the railway industry and the government that this dispute will continue for as long as it takes, until we reach a negotiated agreement.”
Lynch said members of Network Rail will go on strike from 2 a.m. on July 27 for 24 hours, and members of the train operating companies will operate from midnight until 11:59 p.m. .
July 27 is the day before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Network Rail’s offer had included a 4% pay rise prior to January, another 2% next year and a further 2% conditioned on reaching “modernization targets”.
Sky News understands that more was being offered for those paying less than £ 30,000, along with all members being offered a discount on travel for themselves and their families and bonuses.
But the RMT said it had not yet received a salary offer or guarantees for the loss of jobs from train companies, adding that it would consult other unions that had voted in favor of the strike, with the possibility of coordinated march.
Among them could be members of the Aslef drivers ‘union, and the Transport Employees’ Association (TSSA), both of which have supported union action in recent days.