27 April 2023 , 16:52
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Rail workers at 14 train operators will go on strike on May 13, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final.
The RMT rail union announced a fresh walkout after rejecting the latest offer from the Rail Delivery Group to resolve the long-running pay dispute.
The action coincides with the Eurovision final in Liverpool, in a blow to travellers heading to the glitzy ceremony which is being hosted by the UK on behalf of last year's winners Ukraine.
It comes as train drivers from the Aslef union also confirmed three new strike dates in May and June - coinciding with the FA Cup final and the Epsom Derby.
The RMT's ruling body dismissed the offer, which it said included a first-year payment of 5% but only if the union ended its strike mandate.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The RDG have reneged on their original proposals and torpedoed these negotiations.
“No doubt their decision is due to pressure exerted on them by the Tory government.
King Charles and the Queen during a visit to the M and S Bank Arena, the host venue of this year's Eurovision Song Contest (PA)"Therefore, we have no alternative but to press ahead with more strike action and continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on pay, conditions and job security."
The RMT will re-ballot its members and name more strike dates if it gets a renewed mandate for walkouts, he said.
The operators affected are:
Chiltern Railways
Cross Country Trains
Greater Anglia,
LNER,
East Midlands Railway,
Rail strikes to continue as RMT union members reject 'dreadful' pay offer
c2c,
Great Western
Railway,
Northern Trains,
South Eastern
South Western Railway
Transpennine Express,
Avanti West Coast,
West Midlands Trains
GTR (including Gatwick Express
Steve Montgomery, Chair of the Rail Delivery Group said: “We are blindsided by the RMT executive’s announcement - nothing has changed in the offer agreed two weeks ago by the RMT leadership in the negotiating room.
“The RMT are negotiating in bad faith, again denying their members a say on a fair pay deal, needlessly disrupting the lives of millions of our passengers, and undermining the viability of an industry critical to Britain’s economy.”
Earlier, Aslef union said strike action would take place on May 12 and 31, with sources warning the May 12 strike will have an impact on Eurovision fans travelling to Liverpool for the final the following day.
There will also be a walkout on June 3, when Manchester United and Manchester City are due to play at Wembley in the FA Cup final.
The strike could also affect travel to the Derby, which takes place at Epsom Downs that day.