After announcing train strikes, RMT union boss says, “He’s not the Grinch”

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced recently the new dates of the train strikes ahead of Christmas and after New Year. And now, the General Secretary of the union, Mick Lynch, said that he wasn’t the Grinch, the children’s book character who wanted to cancel Christmas.

He said that the strikes scheduled to take place in December and January would show how important the union members were for running the country.

The strike is scheduled to take place in four 48-hour phases. The first two will take place on December 13 and 14, and 16 and 17, and the other two on January 3 and 4, and 6 and 7. Passengers across the country are likely to suffer on the strike days as around 40,000 union members employed at Network Rail and 14 train companies are expected to participate in the strike.




The union has already apologized for the inconvenience to the public and urged them to direct their frustration and anger at the government and the train companies. Two notable events that are likely to be affected due to the strikes include Peter Kay’s comeback shows on December 16 and 17 in London and Birmingham and Paolo Nutini’s shows on December 13,14, and 16.

The December strikes also coincide with the hospitality industry's busiest week of the year. The British Beer and Pub Association has officially remarked that the strike would cause the public to cancel their bookings, and the staffing would also take a hit due to the lack of rail transport.

FAQs:

1. Who is Grinch?
   Grinch is a fictional character from a children’s book, who wants to cancel Christmas.
2. When are Peter Kay’s comeback shows?
   December 16 and 17, in London and Birmingham.