RMT union to stage two national rail strikes on June 4 and June 9

RMT union members at Network Rail are to go on strike next month after once again rejecting a pay offer.

Unless negotiations can prevent industrial action, the union will hold a 24-hour national rail strike on June 4, and a 48-hour strike on June 9.

According to the RMT website, members have been instructed not to book on for duty for any shifts that start between 1700 on June 4 2015 and 1659 on June 5.

A further two day strike will begin at 1700 June 9 and end at 1659 on June 11.

In addition, RMT members will work-to-rule for a week, and have been instructed not to work any overtime, additional hours, extended shifts nor carry out any callouts between 0001 on June 6 2015 and 2359 on June 12.

The previous proposed strike action by RMT and TSSA unions had been called off - a 24-hour strike had been planned for May 24.

“The solidarity and determination of members in the dispute has been incredible and I urge you to keep this up and stand shoulder to shoulder with your colleagues on the days of action,” the RMT said in a statement on its website.

“It is abundantly clear from the views of your reps at the meeting that Network Rail’s offer simply isn’t good enough and we demand nothing less than a substantial improvement.”

In a statement, NR said that the RMT leadership had failed to get their members to accept a pay offer from Network Rail that they had agreed to in discussions with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

NR Chief Executive Mark Carne said: “Our people know that there are ways to improve the way work is done.”

He added: “I have always said that if we work together to realise these benefits there is the possibility to increase pay.  We are therefore ready to get around the table with whoever the RMT consider can speak on behalf of their members.  It is clearly unacceptable for the RMT to massively disrupt the travelling public with strike action when we are ready to continue talks.” 

NR said it would now restart its contingency planning with the train operators, but that if a strike does go ahead, rail services will be severely affected. The TSSA has not yet said whether it will join the industrial action.

This story will be updated as it develops.