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Today, 40,000 staff and 10,000 London Underground union members are on strike.
Both are represented by RMT, which, in the case of national rail workers, has organised the industrial action over pay, job security and safety. The London Underground workers are striking over pensions and job losses.
On Newsnight last night, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that Network Rail handed statutory redundancy notices to the union after it briefly left talks to confirm that strikes would go ahead.
The industrial action has seen many rail operators today strip back services or cancel routes entirely.
One operator has said the public has listened to advice which has urged passengers to only get on trains when absolutely necessary. It said trains were carrying only a small number of people compared to usual services.
You can see a breakdown of how services are affected today here.
Exceeded expectations
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch considered the day a success. He said: “Today’s turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise.
“Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute.
“RMT members are leading the way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy.
“Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win.”
However, it is fair to say that, according to the Rail Delivery Group, it has not been as well received. The group, which comprises train operators, HS2 and Network Rail said a YouGov poll they commissioned found that of 1,678 adults only 25% supported the strike.
Calls for Government involvement
Earlier today, Jenny Gilruth sent a letter to Grant Shapps. She said “Scotland looks set to be one of the worst affected parts of the GB Rail network from today – I am therefore seeking an urgent undertaking from you, to that end, that as UK Transport Secretary you will do all that you can to seek a resolution to this dispute, as quickly as possible, for the benefit of staff and passengers alike.”
She said she tried to schedule a meeting with rail minister Wendy Morton, set for later this week, but that it had been cancelled.
The BBC, in an interview with Shapps, highlighted that one contract between the Department of Transport and South Western says the operator’s handling of industrial action will always be subject to the secretary of state’s direction.
Shapps said he was “extremely involved” working with unions on a modernised railway and compared the clause to one saying it was ultimately in charge of the NHS or postal workers.
He suggested it would mean ministers would undermine and disrupt the process if government intervened.
