Rail workers will join nurses in strikes NEXT MONTH

Rail workers will stage another series of nationwide strikes next month in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

The fresh industrial action follows announcements today by unions for Royal Mail staff, border force workers and nurses, who have declared their intention to stage walk outs.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said their industrial action will start on March 16 after ’employers refused to put any new offers on the table’.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security.

‘Therefore, our members will now take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months.’

The Royal College of Nursing has announced a wave of fresh strike action in March that will be the first 48-hour walkout the union has held in its ongoing dispute on pay 

The strike action will see RMT members from 14 train operators walk out on March 16, 18, 30 and April 1.

In an announcement about the decision RMT general secretary Mick Lynch also said: ‘The Government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies.

‘However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban.’

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail chief negotiator, said: ‘The RMT’s leadership has shown its true colours by choosing politics over people. During months of talks we have made multiple concessions, compromises and offers in our determination to secure a deal.

‘Thousands of employees are telling us they want the improved offer that we have tabled, an offer worth at least 9% over two years – rising to over 14% for the lowest paid, provides job security with no compulsory redundancies and 75% discounted rail travel.

‘But instead of offering members a democratic vote with a referendum, the RMT leadership is hiding behind a sham ‘consultation’.’

It comes as Nurses announced plans to walk out of cancer wards and intensive care for 48 hours in a major escalation of their industrial action. 

While a fresh ballot of members of the Communication Workers Union showed almost 96% were in favour of more strikes unless the deadlock is broken.

Border Force workers will stage a fresh strike on Friday as part of the increasingly bitter dispute over pay in the civil service.

The nurses strikes will, for the first time, involve staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted

CWU members voted overwhelmingly in favour of more strikes, which are likely to take place next month if they go ahead 

Border Force workers will stage a fresh strike on Friday as part of the increasingly bitter dispute over pay, jobs, pensions and conditions in the civil service

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said it was a ‘stunning’ result which showed that Royal Mail workers were determined to continue campaigning against plans to introduce changes in the company.

He revealed that talks have been held with Royal Mail’s chairman and new members of the board with a view to ‘refresh’ talks to try to reach an agreement.

No new strikes have been announced but the union’s postal executive will meet next Wednesday to discuss the next move and potentially trigger strike action.

If they agree to strikes it is likely they will be held in March.

Royal Mail workers have staged a series of strikes in recent months, including in the busy run up to Christmas.

While health leaders described the development for nurses as the ‘most worrying escalation of strikes yet’ and Health Secretary Steve Barclay warned it will ‘risk patient safety’. 

The nurses strikes will, for the first time, involve staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also hopes to bolster its picket lines by increasing the amount it will pay members who lose pay as a result of striking.

The union, which is seeking pay rise of up to 19.7 per cent, said its next strike will run continuously for 48 hours from 6am on March 1.

Previous action took place only during the day shift, for 12 hours each time.

A strike last week saw the RCN agree 5,000 exemptions at local level through committees of NHS hospitals and RCN staff, but this process will be stopped for the March dates.

The RCN said it was continuing discussions with the NHS at national level as part of its commitment to ‘life and limb’ care.

It will reduce services to an ‘absolute minimum’ and ask hospitals to rely on members of other unions and other clinical professions instead.

Pat Cullen, general secretary of the RCN, has accused the government of refusing to engage in negotiations.

Mr Barclay said: ‘Failure to provide cover during strike action for key services like cancer care is a significant escalation from the Royal College of Nursing that will risk patient safety.

‘We are working closely with NHS England on contingency plans, but this action will inevitably cause further disruption for patients.’

While members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) in Dover and French ports including Calais will walk out from tomorrow and over the weekend.

The union claimed inexperienced staff were being brought in to cover for striking Border Force workers.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘Ministers say their priority is security – it obviously isn’t. 

‘They say they have no money to give our hard-working members a fair pay rise, but then find money to pay non-striking workers a healthy bonus, to pay for their transport across the country and to pay for four nights’ hotel accommodation.

‘If ministers were serious about security, they would resolve this dispute immediately by putting money on the table to ensure fully-trained, experienced professionals are guarding our borders.’

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive at NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: ‘This is the most worrying escalation of strikes yet.