{"id":50400,"date":"2022-11-23T14:06:31","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T14:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/?p=50400"},"modified":"2022-11-23T14:06:33","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T14:06:33","slug":"strikewatch-new-train-strikes-could-kill-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/strikewatch-new-train-strikes-could-kill-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Strikewatch: new train strikes could kill Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ahead of the festive period, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has announced a new series of four 48 hour strikes in the lead-up to and after Christmas. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strikes are scheduled to take place in December from the 13-14 and 16-17, and in January from the 3-4 and 6-7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These strikes come off the back of previous strike action<\/a>, where demands are still yet to be met. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BBC<\/a> reported that there are worries that there will be additional disruption on non-strike days “due to trains not being in the right places.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strike will see around 40,000 railway workers walk out. It could also have a dire effect on the hospitality and entertainment industry during the festive season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hospitality workers are expected to face difficulties getting to work in one of the busiest periods of the year for the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers are also expected to cancel bookings at pubs and restaurants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could cause major financial losses for business owners hoping for their best season since the COVID Christmases of 2020 and 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will add to the pressure of inflation and low consumer disposable income, that comes as a result of the Autumn Budget <\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there is currently no strike action scheduled for the week of Christmas, pre-holiday festivities will be affected by the new strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this morning, Lynch stated that he was “not the Grinch”, but could he steal Christmas joy from commuters this year once and for all? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI don't want to be the Grinch.\u201d

RMT boss Mick Lynch tells @mattfrei<\/a> that rail workers are \u201cgenuinely sorry\u201d for any Christmas disruption after announcing eight days of rail strikes in December and January. pic.twitter.com\/xZRE2A1Jz0<\/a><\/p>— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 22, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>