Railway workers in Swindon are set to go on strike in July as part of a national rail dispute, citing the failure of train operators to present a new pay offer.
Members of the RMT union employed by 14 train operating companies including GWR will participate in the strike action on three separate days: 20th, 22nd, and 29th of July.
Previous strikes have resulted in extensive disruptions and cancellations across the railway network with trains starting later and finishing earlier than usual.
Mick Lynch, the General Secretary of RMT, emphasized the significance of railway staff in the smooth functioning of the rail industry and stated that this upcoming strike would highlight their importance.
“This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry,” he said.
“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers.
“Our members have now voted 3 times to take strike action over the last 12 months
“They voted by 9-1 to renew their strike mandate and RMT will continue its industrial campaign until we reach a negotiated settlement on pay, working conditions and job security.”
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said: “More strikes are totally unnecessary. After a year of industrial action all the RMT has achieved is losing their members more money than they would have received in the pay offers they refused to put to put out to a vote, despite having agreed the terms with the negotiators the room.
“We have now made three offers that the RMT executive have blocked without a convincing explanation. We remain open to talks and we have said repeatedly that we want to give our people a pay rise.
“But until the union leadership and executive is united in what it wants and engages in good faith with the 30 per cent shortfall in revenue the industry is continuing to grapple with post-Covid, it is difficult to move forward.
“Sadly our staff, our customers and the communities across the country which rely on a thriving railway are the ones that are suffering as a result.”
