‘We don’t do this lightly’: Santa joins striking York rail workers on the picket line
Rail services out of York Station were severely curtailed again today as workers walked out in the first of a wave of 48-hour strikes.
Santa joined the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) picket line outside the station, even though the action is causing major disruption to travel over Christmas.
Union leader Mick Lynch has said that while he continues to be an “optimist” there is currently “no deal in sight”.
A number of services were still running from York Station this morning. But the platforms were quiet as travellers heeded Network Rail’s advice not to travel unless truly necessary.
Among those on the York picket line today was Harry, who has worked at York Station for four years.
“Pay is a very small part of this,” said Harry, who declined to give his full name.
“The recent offer that was put forward would have been acceptable and negotiated and built upon if it wasn’t for them adding in driver-only trains at the last moment.
“It’s like a red line. Because this is about safety. If you take away your staff from any aspect of the railway it becomes unsafe.
“It’s just important that members of the public understand that this is about safety, and it’s about being an accessible railway – and a good experience for people as well.
“I trust Mick Lynch and the RMT negotiating team have got the best interests of the wider public at heart, more so than unfortunately than the government.”
He blamed the government for stepping in and scuppering negotiations.
Harry was concerned that striking in the lead-up to Christmas could cost them public support.
“Coming here today, we kind of thought that we wouldn’t get as much support.
“There’s been less honks, but I think that’s because there’s quite a bit of traffic today.”
He realised people were being inconvenienced.
“I think everyone’s inconvenienced. My plans are inconvenienced by the railways and it is inconvenient.
“We don’t do this lightly. I want to be in there right now working, helping people get home for Christmas.”
He said he wanted people in York to be “better off, healthy and happy”.
“We’re all in it together. It’s important to understand that the adversary is these people that have got the money, lots of lots of money. And the government are just jokers.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper was repeatedly challenged today on whether he had insisted on a condition requiring driver-only trains as part of an improved pay deal – something which the RMT is vehemently opposed to.
Mr Harper told Sky News: “Reform of the rail industry has been on the table from the very beginning.”
He added: “The detailed negotiations between the employers and the trade unions are between them. The overall amount of money available is something that I have to set, the detail is up to them.
“Driver-only trains are not a new thing. They have been running since the 1980s.”
Network Rail had offered a 5% pay rise for this year – backdated to January – with another 4% at the start of 2023 and a guarantee of no compulsory job losses until January 2025.
The RMT said 64% of its members who voted rejected the proposal.