Britain faces months of rail strikes as unions plan to ruin summer

Britain faces months of rail strikes as unions plan to ruin summer
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Anna Fox

By Anna Fox


Published: 10/06/2022

- 12:04

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:04

Unions proposed action that could disrupt the Commonwealth Games and go on until August

Rail unions across the UK are planning to lengthen the upcoming rail strikes, as members of CrossCountry, East Midlands and West Midlands were urged to walk out in action which could disrupt the Commonwealth Games.

The industrial action by the rail Union TSSA, led by Manuel Cortes, would cause havoc on Britain's rail network planned from the end of June, going on into July and even August.


The rail union served notice to ballot hundreds more staff for strike action in a move next week over pay disputes, condition and job security.

A Yes vote could allow for strike action to take place throughout the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which runs from July 28 to August 8.

Commuters are warned of travel chaos ahead of further strikes planned for the summer months
Commuters are warned of travel chaos ahead of further strikes planned for the summer months
Yui Mok

Rail passengers across the UK are warned of severe delays or cancellations to journeys, as RMT strikes are set cripple services from June 21 to 26.

London Underground will be affected by an RMT and Unite strike on June 21, while Aslef union members on Hull Trails, Greater Anglia and the Croydon Tramlink will stage a series of walkouts between June 23 and July 14.

The strikes planned by the TSSA will coincide with RMT tube strikes
The strikes planned by the TSSA will coincide with RMT tube strikes
James Manning

The announcement from TSSA arose in the wake of a statement from Boris Johnson, who promised not to "surrender" to rail unions, in their ploy to create a "summer of discontent".

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said its members on CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains and West Midlands Trains will vote in the coming weeks on plans to launch campaigns of industrial action over pay, conditions and job security.

The union stated on Thursday it will ballot its members at Avanti West Coast for strikes.

Passengers are already facing huge disruption on the railways and London Underground later this month, by strikes by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Aslef and Unite.

The Prime Minister told Cabinet colleagues that the Department for Transport and the rail industry had his "1,000 percent support in this fight".

Mr Johnson said the Government will not ‘roll over’ to union demands in the face of threats to bring the railways to a standstill and will help the industry weather the storm if a deal can’t be struck.

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