The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced that rail strike action will go ahead this month.

It could be the biggest national rail strike since the late 1980s, seeing more than 50,000 workers across the UK walk out from Network rail and 13 train operators.

Great Western Railway and South Western Railway, the main operators in Salisbury, will be striking.

SWR expect more than 2,100 of their RMT to take industrial action and the union is striking over pay, compulsory redundancies, and safety concerns.

When are they striking?

Strikes will take place across three days this month, each lasting 24 hours, including:

  • Tuesday, June 21 
  • Thursday, June 23 
  • Saturday, June 25

As a cautionary note, disruption is likely to continue throughout the week due to knock-on effects on trains and crews despite the strikes only lasting three days.

The planned industrial action coincides with major events across the region, Glastonbury Festival being the main one.

Great Western Railway have said that customers who have already purchased tickets can claim a full refund or ammend their ticket and travellers can claim compensation if delayed by 15 minutes or more.

The Union threaten "months of disruption" unless rail bosses and ministers can come up with new proposals.

'Treated appallingly'

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: "Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously.

"We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1pc and rising."

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said: "We are carefully finalising contingency plans, but I’m afraid this action will mean that many customers will be unable to travel by rail. 

“If customers can change their date of travel, or make alternative arrangements, I urge them to begin making those arrangements as soon as possible."

If the rail strikes goes ahead, around a fifth of services would run on the strike dates.

Will your travel plans be impacted by the strikes? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk