UNION bosses will “effectively shut down” the rail network as they target football fans in the latest wave of strikes.
Some 40,000 RMT workers are staging stoppages in their dispute over pay and conditions.
Union bosses such as the RMT’s Mick Lynch will ‘effectively shut down’ the rail network as they target football fans in the latest wave of strikes
Some 40,000 RMT workers are staging stoppages in their dispute over pay and conditions
Supporters travelling to matches on Saturday, September 17 face the prospect of cancelling plans as the talks’ deadlock continues.
Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Transport Select Committee, said: “The RMT seem determined to undermine our economy, cause misery, and smash up their own industry, driving people away from railways made unreliable by their own workers’ actions.
“Time for them to understand the consequences of strikes and call off their continued disruption.”
RMT members will also strike on September 15, with Aslef taking action too.
And Labour’s annual party rally faces being overshadowed as the TSSA holds a 24-hour strike from September 26.
It sparked fresh fears of a winter of discontent as leftie union bosses plot to synchronise strikes to bring the country to its knees.
Pay talks between the RMT and Network Rail remain deadlocked with the offer of a two-year eight per cent rise, discounted travel and no compulsory redundancies.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Network Rail and the train operating companies have shown little interest this past few weeks in offering our members anything new in order for us to be able to come to a negotiated settlement.
“Grant Shapps continues his dereliction of duty by staying in his bunker and shackling the rail industry from making a deal with us.”
Transport Secretary Mr Shapps said “union bosses are holding both passengers and their own members to ransom.”
