LYNCH
Mick

Pay offers for railway workers The British rail, maritime and transport union RMT has rejected Network Rail's offer of wage increases, meaning 40,000 of its staff could go on strike again. "After extensive and detailed consultation at every level of the union, the National Executive Committee has decided to reject both proposals on the grounds that they do not meet members' expectations of wages, job retention or working conditions," the statement said. According to Sky News, the employer had offered railway workers a 5% pay rise retrospectively from January last year and a 4% increase in 2023. According to Network Rail, it was a "best and final offer". At the same time, one of the union's demands was for wages to be increased by the level of inflation. Last year, the country's price rise was a record 10.5 per cent for almost 40 years. The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association said workers would be able to make their suggestions to their employer, but did not formally tell union members to accept or reject it. The Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail operators, said passengers and RMT members would be "deeply saddened" if the EU rejects the proposal without a vote on full membership. Mick Lynch said: [cite=103]"The time has come for employers and the government to listen to the tens of thousands of rail workers."[/cite] "Our campaign will continue for as long as it takes to negotiate an agreement that meets the expectations of our members," he added. A massive wave of strikes, triggered by soaring inflation and falling real incomes and living standards, swept the United Kingdom late last year. In addition to railway workers, the strikes involved health and emergency services workers, postmen, border guards, teachers, and representatives of a number of other professions. The British authorities have repeatedly stated that they cannot afford to raise public sector wages in line with inflation, because such measures will only lead to a further rise in prices in the country and put an excessive burden on the budget. According to a report from the United Kingdom's Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Friday, the strikes contributed to the country's GDP shrinking by 0.5 per cent in December last year after rising in October and November.

Boxing Day strikes Strikes by British railway workers have forced thousands of people in the United Kingdom to change their plans over the Christmas period and cancel visits to friends and family. This was reported by The Guardian newspaper on Monday. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport RMT is holding strikes at the height of the country's Christmas celebrations between 6 p.m. December 24 and 05:59 a.m. December 27. The union's main demand is for higher wages, no redundancies and no worsening of working conditions. Negotiations with Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining much of Britain's rail infrastructure, have not resolved the dispute. Disruption was also expected for people travelling to and from airports that do not serve the Stansted Express on Boxing Day. The publication noted that UK residents who had planned to travel to Stansted Airport near London on express trains faced problems on Monday, in particular. Eurostar also announced the cancellation of trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam due to strikes. However, bus operators National Express and Megabus, on the other hand, reported a sharp increase in customers. The Automobile Association (AA) added that over 15 million cars are expected to be on British roads on Monday: traditionally, on December 26, many Britons take part in Christmas sales or attend football matches, which do not cease over the festive period. Also, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "[cite=103]Until the government gives the rail industry a mandate to reach a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and working conditions, our industrial campaign will continue.[/cite]" It is worth noting that the UK in December was gripped by a wave of strikes amid a sharp rise in inflation it was a record high of almost 40 years, 10.7%, and a drop in real incomes. In addition to railway workers, they include border guards, nurses, ambulance drivers, driving test officials and postmen.

Fining passengers who refuse to wear a face coverings on the Tube will "greatly help with compliance", the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said. Masks will be compulsory in shops and transport from Tuesday in response to new Omicron Covid-19 variant cases. Masks remained a condition of carriage after Covid restrictions eased in July although compliance waned after the rule stopped being legally enforceable. London TravelWatch said mandatory mask wearing would be "reassuring for many". Two further cases of the newly identified variant were discovered in London on Tuesday, bringing the UK total to 11. London was the first English city to insist on face coverings after Covid restrictions eased. However, a lack of legal powers to enforce the rule meant that Transport for London's (TfL) team of around 500 enforcement officers was left to ensure compliance across the capital without the support of the British Transport Police. Just 126 passengers have been asked to leave TfL services for refusing to wear a mask since July, despite up to five million passengers using the Tube each day. Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said '[cite=103]We support the wearing of masks but there are major issues about enforcement and its our members left in the front line with angry passengers who refuse to comply.[/cite] The rules for masks will apply in shops and on public transport but, unlike previously, won't apply in pubs and restaurants in England when not seated. Sadiq Khan said "we have been operating with one hand tied behind our back" without the ability to fine those that flout mask wearing rules so "wholeheartedly welcomes" the government's decision to once again make masks compulsory. He said: "Evidence shows that face coverings help stop the virus spreading, and ensuring that this is enforced will greatly help with compliance. "[cite=5]We know that by wearing face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, washing our hands regularly, ensuring indoor spaces are properly ventilated, and maintaining a social distance wherever possible, viruses find it much harder to spread.[/cite]" Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-59467262