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Tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday, 40,000 workers will not show up for work, which will cause serious problems in the island's rail transport.

According to Transport Minister Grant Shaps, the strike is a mistake that will inconvenience millions - including high school seniors who are taking exams these days.

According to him, the salaries of railway workers are already reasonable.

The trade union actions taken are the result of an unresolved dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The Transport Workers' Union (RMT) wants a 7% increase in wages, which is currently lower than inflation but higher than what employers are offering, BTA reports.

RMT union secretary general Mick Lynch said recent proposals by public and private train companies had been rejected because they were unacceptable.

He suggested that the hands of employers were tied by the government.

Mick Lynch has accused Transport Secretary Grant Shaps of cutting the public transport budget by billions of pounds.

And transport in Brussels paralyzed by a strike

The union also says the government is trying to cut thousands of jobs in the sector.

"Grant Shaps' fingerprints and Rishi Sunak's DNA are everywhere on railroad issues," said Mick Lynch.

Asked if the strike could last for months if no agreement is reached, he said it was likely to happen.

In response to the criticism, Minister Schaps expressed the opinion that the conflict was caused by the heads of the trade unions, who caused the strike with claims for unreasonably high salary increases. 

In response to the announcement of the strike, a Downing Street spokesman said it was deeply disappointing and devastating, and Boris Johnson described the strike as "an act of self-harm to railway workers". 

The strike will cause inconvenience to millions this week.

Some analysts fear it could spark months of strikes, and other workers, including teachers, may also take action later this year.

Labor's shadow minister, Louise Hay, has backed the railroad workers as they fight for a fair pay settlement, but regrets the inconvenience the strike will cause.

Another neuralgic point in the relationship between the government and the unions could be touched on this week, as the government intends to lift the ban imposed in the 1970s on hiring workers from agencies to involve striking workers.

Great Britain

railway transport

general strike