this makes it the biggest rail dispute since 1989. it s caused huge disruption,. but what are the reasons behind such a big decision from the unions? here s ben thompson to explain. the transport union the rmt says this is a dispute overjob security, a freeze on pay and what it sees as poor management of the industry. it says that network rail s plans to cut to 9000 maintenance jobs would make accidents more likely because the roles of a safety critical. it adds that many have had their pay frozen despite working throughout the pandemic. the rmt is leaders say despite weeks of negotiations they ve only been offered a 2% pay rise. network rail disputes at
i don t think sunday will be the end of it, from what i can see. if we can negotiate a deal this week, it can be, but otherwise we ll have to look at what campaigns we are going to put on going forward, and we think that other unions are going tojoin us in this dispute on the railway, and more broadly in society. it wasn t the employers that called the strike action. we wanted rmt. .. we wanted to do reform earlier. they have been discussing it with us, but they have not came forward with meaningful reform. in other news, ukraine is on the verge of losing control of the key city of severodonetsk. its troops have been pushed back to just one factory there. allegations of corruption and sexual abuse at the united nations whistle blowers call for an independent panel to investigate. an inquiry finds that the belfast health trust failed to intervene quickly enough on misdiagnoses by a consultant neurologist, resulting in northern ireland s largest ever patient recall.
there are good reasons why. as a kind of modernisation that would improve safety which is being held back. he improve safety which is being held back. ,, , . ., improve safety which is being held back. , . . ., 4 back. he says the change in working habits brought back. he says the change in working habits brought about back. he says the change in working habits brought about by back. he says the change in working habits brought about by the - back. he says the change in working i habits brought about by the pandemic means the uk rail industry needs to modernise to survive. is means the uk rail industry needs to modernise to survive. modernise to survive. is that really the case? figures modernise to survive. is that really the case? figures from modernise to survive. is that really the case? figures from the - modernise to survive. is that really the case? figures from the office l the case? figures from the office for road and rail show 2022 passenger numbers were about 60
that really the case? figures from the office for road and rail say in march passenger numbers were 60% of pre pandemic levels and that could suggest long term changes in our travel habits with more of us now working from home for at least some of the time. but more recently passenger numbers have been rising and the latest data shows by may the number of passengers had risen to between 86 92% of pre pandemic levels and the unions say there are also bigger problems with the way that the industry is run. £16 billion was pumped into the industry by taxpayers during the pandemic to keep the network going but the rmt says that just keep the network going but the rmt says thatjust helped boost profits for private businesses, subcontractors and operators who, they claim, made £500 million in profit last year. on top of that there is a cost of leasing passenger carriages and other train vehicles
this week, it can be, but otherwise we ll have to look at what campaigns we are going to put on going forward, and we think that other unions are going tojoin us in this dispute on the railway, and more broadly in society. it wasn t the employers that called the strike action. we wanted rmt. .. we wanted to do reform earlier. they have been discussing it with us, but they have not came forward with meaningful reform. in other news ukraine is on verge of losing control of the key city of severodonetsk: its troops have been pushed back to just one factory there. allegations of corruption and sexual abuse at the united nations whistleblowers call for an independent panel to investigate. one, two, three, four. star dj fatboy slim holds a music workshop to help people with mental health problems.