Further rail strikes planned for July

Up to 20,000 railway workers will once again strike in July as part of the national rail dispute, triggering another period of uncertainty for pubs, bars and other hospitality businesses.

RMT members working across 14 train operating companies will take strike action on 20, 22 and 29 July, with the union saying train operators have failed to make a new pay offer to its members.

"This fresh set of rail strikes will be a hammer blow for hospitality businesses entering the peak summer season," says UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls. "Venues will have been gearing up for bumper sales as schools break up for summer holidays.

"Strike disruption over the past year has already cost the hospitality sector £3.25bn in lost sales and there is no doubt that figure will increase as a result of these strike days. Businesses, workers and consumers all lose out and confidence in our critical transport network is taking a fatal blow.

"It is imperative that the government, rail companies and unions reignite negotiations and get back round the table as a matter of urgency. Sectors like hospitality continue to be collateral damage in this dispute and I would urge all parties to reach a resolution to avoid further damage to the economy."

No further negotiations

The RMT union says it is willing to enter further negotiations, but neither the rail operators nor the government have asked its leaders to any meetings.

It has stressed that the government has the mandate for the 14 rail operators RMT is in dispute with and contractually sets the negotiating parameters of those companies with the rail unions. 

"My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers," says RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. "Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.

"The government continues to shackle the companies and will not allow them to put forward a package that can settle this dispute. Our members have now voted three times to take strike action over the last 12 months, the most recent of which coincided with having the full details of the substandard offer from the rail operators."

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