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Strike in Britain paralyses the railways and London Underground. What is the RMT trying to accomplish?

Strike in Britain paralyses the railways and London Underground. What is the RMT trying to accomplish?
photo: Courtesy RMT Young Members/Twitter/Strike in Britain paralyses the railways and London Underground. What is the RMT trying to accomplish?
22 / 06 / 2022

The largest railroad strike in 30 years in Britain has begun. Its goal is to draw attention to the problem of insufficient wages, lack of wage increases for several years, and job cuts. RMT (the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) union activists were in charge of the planning and organization of the protest.

The grievances of the railroad workers, fully justified by the unfair treatment of their work and contributions to the public, are expressed as follows:

RMT Union on Twitter

To date, railroad workers are striking, demanding a seven per cent wage increase, provoked primarily by inflation, which has driven up the cost of living (in Britain in particular, the figure is approaching ten per cent).

"Some of our workers have not received a wage increase for the third year consequently. The government can either facilitate the deal or block it. At the moment, it's blocking it," comments RMT Secretary-General Mick Lynch.

The implication is that the government is demanding that the railroads cut their annual spending by more than £57 billion, which, in turn, will inevitably lead to job cuts. Among other things, the cabinet aims to amend the law to oblige railroad workers to provide at least minimal services during strikes.

Current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson states that "by forcing strikes on the railroads, they simply discourage people who have to commute to work and who end up supporting railroad jobs." It affects communities and businesses across the country, he said.

The current government's response to the situation lends itself to criticism of the opposition because it refuses to engage in negotiations with the unions. Ministers say the problem must be addressed by unions and employers.

This strike affects not only the lives of UK residents, who are forced to adjust to changes in schedules and find ways to get to work on time, but also the experience of tourists, who face difficulties in getting around the country. Will this strike turn into a 1970s trend and turn into a "summer of discontent"? RAILTARGET's editorial staff will keep a close eye on developments and keep you informed of all the news and changes.

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