A fresh round of rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas and in the New Year have been announced.

Workers are to stage a series of 48-hour strikes in December and January in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union said.

Over 40,000 members across Network and 14 train operating companies will walk out on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January.

Talks had been ongoing in the six-month rail dispute over jobs cuts, pay and working terms. As a result the RMT had averted planned early November strikes.

Rail workers were due to take to the picket lines on 5, 7 and 9 November but cancelled walkouts and engaged in two weeks of talks.

Emerging from those talks, the rail operators were due to make written proposals for the union to offer to members, the RMT said.

The union said train operator Network Rail was due to present their new written proposals on 17 November but did not do so.

RMT vote for further six months of strike action

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The Rail Delivery Group, representing train operating companies, was also due to present written proposals but “without any credible explanation refused” to do so.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “After a fortnight of talks, the TOCs [train operating companies] had committed to making a firm offer in writing for the first time today.

“They cancelled the meeting at an hour’s notice, and we can sense the hand of the Tory government in this as we believe that they are not allowing an offer to be made.”

“This is on top of Network Rail failing to make a new proposal at the end of last week.”

Last week the union was given a mandate by members to continue strike action for a further six months.

The RMT is just one of many unions having organised and currently threatening industrial action.

Civil servants, nurses, postal workers, ambulance workers and firefighter unions have all eyed or organised work walkouts.

The Communications Workers Union, who represents Royal Mail workers, is voting on Tuesday whether they have confidence in the company’ CEO, Simon Thompson.

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