Fury as RMT announces rail strikes during Christmas rush | UK | News

The RMT union has announced that it will strike on a major UK railway line over the Christmas period.

Avanti West Coast services are set to be disrupted on December 22, 23 and 29.

Officials say that, on these dates, customers should expect timetables and operating hours to be reduced significantly.

Rail bosses have also asked people who plan to travel over this period to note that services that do run are expected to be busy.

Avanti West Coast serves London, Manchester, Blackpool and Scotland.

Avanti said in a statement: “We strongly advise customers to check before they travel.

“If you booked tickets to travel on these strike days before the industrial action was announced, we recommend travelling on an alternative day as our services will be busy.”

Customers can use prebooked tickets with Avanti West Coast on the following travel dates:

• Tickets dated December 22 and 23 can be used any time between December 16 and 24
• Tickets dated December 29 can be used any time between December 28 and January 3

Avanti added: “Or if you’d rather not travel, you can claim a full, fee-free refund from where you bought your ticket.

“To minimise the number of people disrupted, we’ve suspended ticket sales for our services on the strike days.

“The reduced timetables for 22 and 23 December are expected to be available to book from 14 December. We’ll provide more information about the amended timetable for 29 December as soon as we have it.”

Andy Stock said on X: “So much for Labour sorting out strikes on the railways!”

@MissPennyDQ posted: “Soooo you are preventing people from getting home to their families and friends and preventing people form getting to work etc!”

Adele Louise James said: “You are taking the mick. I have booked tickets to go home.”

@lamashedliving1 commented: “Penalise the innocent people who pay their wages by screwing up their Xmas plans. Nice.”

Myles Drake said: “Why on Earth are you on strike for now? You’re nothing but a bunch of greedy, selfish fools. Absolutely cannot wait for the day you all get replaced by robots.”

RMT workers have rejected the operator’s “inadequate proposals on rest day working arrangements”.

In an e-referendum, the union says 92.8 per cent of its members rejected management’s latest proposals on a turnout of 81 per cent.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Avanti West Coast’s proposals have been decisively rejected by our Train Managers, sending a clear message to management that the current arrangements are unacceptable.

“Train Managers are being treated unfairly compared to senior managers, who receive significant payments for covering these roles.

“Our members have had enough, and this strike action demonstrates their determination to win a fair deal.

“It’s time for Avanti to put forward serious proposals that reflect the vital contribution of our Train Managers to the railway.

“We remain ready to reach a negotiated settlement and we urge management to show they are serious about resolving this dispute.”