12 July 2022
RMT Press Office:
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This is the latest step in a clampdown on democratic dissent which every trades unionist and democrat must oppose.
"The use of agency labour to break strikes is not only unethical and morally reprehensible; it is totally impracticable. Agency workers will not have the skill, training, or relevant competences to drive a train to do complex maintenance work on the track, to signal trains or to do a whole host of safety critical work on the network.
"Instead of trying to reduce trade union rights which are already the worst in western Europe, the government should be unshackling Network Rail and the train operating companies so we can secure a negotiated settlement on the railways."
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: