Train strikes are continuing this weekend, with cancellations and delays expected until Sunday.
This comes after an offer from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the rail operators, earlier this year.
The offer was rejected by RMT, as it fell too far below the rate of inflation, and so strikes are going ahead this weekend.
RDG put out a statement last week relating to the upcoming strikes.
“We have invited the RMT leadership to meet for further talks and have made clear we are always open to dialogue. However we have also made clear to the RMT leadership that meaningful progress can only be made if they remove the threat of strikes hanging over our passengers before it is too late to avoid disruption.”
Services will be affected on Saturday, and with this Sunday being Mother’s day these strikes have the potential to cause more inconvenience than normal.
A press release from RMT yesterday said: ‘Fat cat rail bosses award themselves eye watering annual pay hikes while lecturing rail workers on need for pay restraint and reform.
‘On the day that rail workers take strike action, new research has revealed that bosses at seven rail companies have awarded themselves annual pay rises of between 15 – 275% whilst most rail workers have been subject to a pay freeze.’
Commuters at Sheffield train station on Friday morning had mixed views on this week’s strikes.
Hayley Geddes, 35, was in full support: “I’ve got a friend who works on the trains and she’s not getting paid enough for the unsociable hours and having to deal with the public that aren’t always that friendly.”
Other passengers were not as sympathetic.
Shannon Parkhouse, 26, said she had been late for work several times due to the strikes. “It’s affecting everyone else, so I think they just need to think about their actions.”
Linda Farwell, 41, described the workers as selfish- ” I don’t know what they’re moaning about, they have a job don’t they?”