Britain is facing a summer of discontent with more workers set to be balloted on strike action, a union chief has warned, as a series of walkouts is set to cripple the rail network.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has predicted industrial action could spread to other services, arguing that “people can’t take it anymore”.

Unions representing teachers and NHS workers have also threatened industrial action over pay.

Meanwhile, the government has accused some unions of “bribing” workers to go on strike, with claims they are offering tax-free payments through “strike funds”.

Speaking ahead of three days of staggered rail strikes, which is set to cause widespread disruption for millions of train passengers, he insisted he wanted to reach a settlement, but his members had no choice but to “fight”.

But Mr Lynch has been accused by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of “gunning” for strikes, which he argued would be “disastrous” for the industry.

Mr Lynch told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “I think there are going to be many unions balloting across the country, because people can’t take it anymore.

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“We have got people who doing full time jobs who are having to take state benefits and use food banks. That is a national disgrace.”

He confirmed his union will press ahead with walkouts over pay, conditions and job losses.

The strikes will take place on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June.

Explainer: Here’s all the detail you need to know to get through the disruption

But Network Rail has said the industrial action will cause six days of disruption because services will be affected on the days in between.

It threatens to be the start of a summer of discontent, amid widespread concern over the cost of living crisis as inflation is forecast to top 11% later this year.

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Mr Lynch added: “We don’t want to be the cause of disruption in people’s lives. We want a settlement to this dispute, but we are facing a crisis for our members.

“If we don’t play our hand thousands of my members will lose their jobs, railway services will be cut back, the safety regime that has been in place for a good deal of time will be cut back.

“We have to fight this this.

“Because we haven’t had any pay rises we are faced with thousands of job cuts and they want to rip out terms and conditions in a form of fire and rehire that’s internal to the railway It’s just as ruthless as P&O really.

“We are available to negotiate.”

He also said claims by the transport secretary that the union refused to attend talks on Saturday in a bid to head off the strikes was “an entire fabrication”.

Mr Lynch said: “He’s making it up. What he’s saying is untrue. There were no negotiations scheduled.”

He added: “If there’s not a settlement we will continue our campaign.”

But Mr Shapps told Ridge: “They are gunning for this strike action I am afraid and it’s going to inconvenience millions of Britons.”

He said: “It is disastrous. It is no way to behave on the railway. There is no advantage to this. I know Mick Lynch says he is ‘nostalgic for union power’ but this is no way to behave.”

He dismissed calls by the RMT for the government to step in to resolve the rail dispute as a “stunt”.

Mr Shapps said: “The trade unions know that only the trade union and the employer can settle this.

“I will not cut across that. I will not undermine the employer’s works.

“This is a stunt at the 11th hour by the union, suddenly coming forward and saying ‘We need to negotiate with the government now’ even though this last month they told me they wouldn’t be seen dead negotiating with the government.”

He added: “Of course, it is a reality that if we can’t get these railways modernised, if we can’t get the kind of efficiency that will mean that they can work on behalf of the travelling public, then of course it is jeopardising the future of the railway itself.

“I think it is a huge act of self-harm to go on strike at the moment.

“I don’t believe the workers are anywhere as militant as their unions who are leading them up the garden path. They are gunning for this strike. It is completely unnecessary.”

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