2023-07-29 14:56:52
Rail travelers in England again had to accept severe restrictions on Saturday due to a strike. Just over half of the connections were served, the BBC reported. For the second Saturday in a row, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) had called on its members to stop working. Around 20,000 railway employees from various companies responded to the call. Connections to Scotland and Wales were also affected.
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The dispute over wages, jobs and working hours has been going on for more than a year. The dispute was exacerbated by the railway operators’ plans to largely abolish ticket offices. Critics fear that this could make it difficult for people with disabilities to buy tickets.
First and foremost it is about preserving jobs, RMT boss Mick Lynch told the BBC on Saturday. In addition, the railway employees are demanding wage increases in order to cushion the cost of living, which has risen significantly due to inflation. The railway operators, on the other hand, claim that they have had to contend with significant losses during the pandemic.
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