In Britain, members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are prepping for a strike yet again on 2 June to protest against the inadequate pay and working conditions.
Additionally, at least 20,000 employees including station staff, train mangers as well as catering staff will be boycotting work on 31 May and 2 and 3 June, 2023, under the aegis of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), another union. This will only lead to more disruption causing more inconvenience to people than before coming at a time when there are several music concerts, the FA Cup final and also the Epsom Derby scheduled to take place.
Meanwhile, the British government feels that the RMT is being difficult, as the strikes will lead to unnecessary problems for the citizens.
However, RMT is disappointed that train companies have not come up with any new proposals ever since the last strike took place on 13 May, 2023. The protestors feel the government is keeping the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) from making any more enhanced offers in what has turned into a national-level conflict. In April, RMT had rejected the offer made to them, while the train companies still maintain that their offer was fair and that RMT is unnecessarily being stubborn without even consulting or discussing with its own members regarding the offer.
The fact that work practices require to change so that pay hikes can be considered is being highlighted by the government and industry, arguing that the railway is not sustainable financially. On the other hand, the unions argue that the working conditions are far from adequate and the hikes proposed are way too low to tackle inflation.
