Thousands of rail workers struck in Britain on today, Tuesday June 21. The train system slowed to a crawl in the biggest transit strike in 30 years in the country. Those who struck included cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff. The plan was to hold a 24-hour strike, but two more were planned for Thursday and Saturday.
London Underground was also subjected to a walkout by workers on Tuesday, compounding the situation. The strike demands include better pay and working conditions as the rail system recovers from the Covid slow down.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union reported that it will not accept rail firms’ offer of a 3% raise, which is far below the rate of inflation, currently running at 9% in the UK. The union says the Conservative government refused to give rail firms enough flexibility to offer a substantial pay increase. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the strike was “harming the very people they claim to be helping” and called for “a sensible compromise for the good of the British people and the rail workforce.”