By Doug Faulkner BBC News Image source, PA Media Rail and tube strikes will go ahead next week after talks stoppedworking to willpower a row over pay, tasks and conditions, union leaders haveactually validated. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) stated conversations with Network Rail, train operators and London Underground had stoppedworking. The strike will cause disturbance throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The Department for Transport stated it was frustrating and that strikes must “always be the last resort”. The action, which will include thousands of employees, will take location throughout 13 train operators and Network Rail on Tuesday, Thursday and next Saturday, and there will be a London Underground strike on Tuesday. Operators have stated there will be knock-on results on other days as well. Network Rail, which owns and preserves the nation’s trains, stated the union was “dismissing talks priorto we’ve even completed” with more conversations prepared for Sunday. A Network Rail representative stated it was “serious” about attempting to discover a option and a compromise which offered individuals a “decent pay increase”, however was likewise budgetfriendly for taxpayers and farepayers. Mick Lynch, the RMT’s basic secretary, informed BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House program the mostcurrent deal from Network Rail was for a 2% pay boost, with a possible additional 1% if “productivity” conditions including task cuts are accepted. “We won’t be purchased off on that concept. We cannot have our members’ lives interferedwith in the method they are proposing,” he stated. He included that he would assistance a so-called basic strike if one were
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