The RMT has rejected an offer from train operators to avoid strikes over the Christmas period, the union has announced.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said its proposed framework would have supported pay rises of up to 8%, covering the 2022 and 2023 pay awards, while delivering much-needed reforms.
But the RMT, led by general secretary Mick Lynch, has rejected this.
The union said: “The RDG is offering 4% in 2022 and 2023, which is conditional on RMT members accepting major changes to working practices, major job losses, driver-only trains (DOO ) to all businesses and the closing of all ticket offices.”
Mr Lynch added: “We have rejected this offer as it does not meet any of our criteria for securing an agreement on long-term job security, a decent pay rise and protecting working conditions.
“The RDG and the Department for Transport (DfT), which sets its mandate, knew that this offer would not be acceptable to RMT members.
“If this plan were to be implemented, it would not only mean the loss of thousands of jobs, but the use of unsafe practices such as DOO and would leave our railways chronically understaffed.”
RMT has demanded an urgent meeting with RDG on Monday morning in the hope of trying to resolve the dispute, the union posted on Twitter.
In a statement posted on the RMT website, Mr Lynch said the talks would aim to achieve “a negotiated agreement on job security, working conditions and pay”.
It means rail strikes planned for December and early January are still planned, with commuters facing severe disruption on December 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 3, 4, 6 and 7 January
Lynch previously insisted “I’m not the Grinch” as he defended industrial action.
Read more: All the lines affected by the train strikes during Christmas and January
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2:03 How will the strikes affect companies?
A bleak winter of strikes
Motorists have also been warned to brace for Christmas mayhem after road workers revealed they will be putting down their tools for 12 days to coincide with the rail outages.
Workers at National Highways, which operate and maintain roads in England, will take part in a series of staggered strikes from December 16 to January 7, the PCS union said.
Secretary-General Mark Serwotka acknowledged the action could upset travelers hoping to visit loved ones over the festive period, but said the government would not listen to its own workforce.
“With the severe cost of living crisis, they deserve to be properly paid for the important work they do, keeping our roads safe and free,” he said.
A growing list of unions is threatening to bring the country to a standstill, putting pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
It is trying a more constructive and less combative approach with unions as the government treads a fine line between “being tough but also being humane and treating people with respect”, a government source told Sky News.
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1:05 The military could “drive ambulances” during strikes
About 10,000 paramedics voted to strike in England and Wales, the GMB union announced this week.
They are joining up to 100,000 nurses who will be walking out in the biggest strike in the history of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 15 and 20 December.
On Sunday morning, Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News’ Sophie Ridge on Sunday that the army could be deployed to help ease possible strike disruption over Christmas.