THREE DAY national strike will hit the railway network in June

Rail union RMT will launch a THREE DAY national strike action across the whole railway network.

Over 50,000 railway workers will walkout as part of 3 days of national strike action later this month, in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.

The Union will shut down the country's railway network on 21, 23 and 25 June, due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT say the Union.

The action by RMT will affect the national railway network for the entire week where the 3 days of action have been called.

Network Rail and the train operating companies have subjected staff to a multiyear pay freeze and the RMT claim there are plans to cut thousands of jobs which will make the railways unsafe.

Despite talks with the rail bosses, RMT has not been able to secure a pay proposal nor a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

In a separate dispute over pensions and job losses, London Underground RMT members will take strike action on 21 June.

RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch, said: "Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously.

"We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1pc and rising.

"Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system.

"Rail companies are making at least £500m a year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This unfairness is fuelling our members anger and their determination to win a fair settlement.

"RMT is open to meaningful negotiations with rail bosses and ministers, but they will need to come up with new proposals to prevent months of disruption on our railways."