Lisa Haseldine Lisa Haseldine

Are rail strikes the start of a summer of discontent?

RMT Union boss Mick Lynch (Credit: Sky News)

This morning, the UK woke up to the largest rail strike in thirty years. As many as 50,000 workers are striking, with just one in five trains running across the country. Commuters have been told to work from home or travel by other means while stations are deserted.

This scenario is one that Brits will have to get used to. The RMT rail union is to strike again on Thursday and Saturday and has vowed to continue striking for ‘as long as it takes’ to get the 7 per cent pay rise it demands. The RMT argue that the 3 per cent rise offered by Network Rail does little to plug the gap caused by rising inflation and the cost of living crisis.

There really does seem no end in sight. At least not a swift one.

The strike has been timed to cause maximum damage: children are currently sitting GCSEs and A Levels for the first time in three years, Glastonbury music festival begins on Wednesday.

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