DECEMBER will see another set of rail strikes as workers protest against low pay, job cuts and working conditions.
These are the dates to pen down and which lines will be affected throughout the rail strikes.
What are the rail strike dates?
Continuing rail strikes will take place on December 13, December 14, December 16 and December 17, the RMT union has announced.
From December 18 till January 2, RMT confirmed that there will also be an overtime ban which will see the union take industrial action over four weeks.
The series of rail strikes in the UK over the past months have been a result of disputes over pay, the prospect of compulsory redundancies and working conditions.
Strikes involve staff at Network Rail, which covers England, Scotland and Wales – resulting in widespread action affecting services across the network.
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So far, there have been no London Overground and Underground announced for December by TfL.
It has been reported that talks are still taking place as Network Rail prepare to make a revised offer to unions.
The offer comes after RMT leader Mick Lynch said that talks with the government had offered a "good start", but that "concrete change" was needed.
Network Rail said the offer that was made in July is worth 8% over two years but depended on workers accepting its "modernisation plans".
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However, the RMT union refused what they referred to as a paltry sum" as they believe salaries should increase to reflect the rising costs of living.
Further strike action also comes after the RMT said Network Rail planned to axe 2,500 maintenance jobs, in order to save £2b over the next two years.
However, Network Rail disputes this and said it actually made an improved offer – extending the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies by a further year to January 2025.
Network Rail chief negotiator Tim Shoveller said: "Unfortunately, the leadership of the RMT seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer.''
Other unions striking for change include the TSSA, which are demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and no changes to terms and conditions that it hasn't agreed to.
As well as the Aslef union which represents drivers – as they said that some members had not had a pay rise since 2019.
When do the train strikes finish?
The union has now begun a new ballot, which means if its members vote in favour, strike action could possibly continue into next spring.
The last known strike date currently is January 7, meaning services should affect resume to normal on January 8.
Which train lines are affected by the rail strike?
During the strike dates in December, some operators will run at a reduced service while other will not offer their services at all.
The train lines set to be affected by the December strikes include:
- Great Western Railway
- Avanti West Coast
- East Midlands Railway
- CrossCountry
- LNER
- Greater Anglia
- South Western Railway
- West Midlands Trains
- Northern
- GTR (including Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express)
- Southeastern
- Transpennine Express
- c2c
- Chiltern Railways
- Eurostar
Will there be any more rail strikes in 2022?
After the mass walk out in June, rail strikes have been an ongoing issue – and more dates could added if union members vote in favour of the ballot.
Therefore, strike action could continue into later next year if workers do not receive the deal they are striking for.
Mick Whelan, General Secretary, said: "We would much rather not be in this position.
"We don’t want to go on strike – withdrawing our labour, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for this trade union – but the train companies have been determined to force our hand."
RMT boss Mick Lynch said action by his union will continue "until we reach a settlement".
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He also warned that the UK could be hit by a wave of strikes in "every sector of the economy".
Strikes have already been confirmed to hit railways during the first few days of the new year.
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