With more strikes schedule at the end of this week, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December 2022, the Rail Delivery Group have shared their 'disappointment' that the leadership of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), has rejected the offer of an 8% pay increase.

Workers and RMT members are calling for better conditions and pay rises to match the pace of inflation, with the cost of living rising at its fastest rate for more than 40 years.

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "This data confirms the scale of the financial challenge the industry faces as it recovers from the pandemic and the pressing need for reform to put it on a sustainable footing. 

"Passenger numbers are still well below the pre-pandemic level - with fare revenue in the latest quarter just 71% of what it was in 2019. 

"We want to give our people a pay rise, We are disappointed the RMT leadership has not accepted our very fair offer of an 8% increase in 22/23 pay packets which could have ended this dispute.

"Instead of further undermining the recovery of the industry, we need the unions to work with us to deliver long overdue reforms to outdated working practices which will improve services and secure the long-term future of the railway and its workforce. "

More strikes are expected over the festive period, with further action scheduled on:

Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 January 2023

Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January 2023