High morale on day two of strike action as dozens protest in Barrow

Railway workers in Barrow came out in their drones for the second day of national strike action this week over job cuts, pay, working conditions and practices, and pensions.

The journeys of millions of commuters across England, Scotland and Wales have been disrupted this week as rail strikes force an estimated 80 per cent of trains to be cancelled.

Rail bosses have confirmed that Furness and West Cumbria will receive no rail service during strike days, which will continue on Saturday, and knock-on effects from these days will cause delays cancellations of services on non-strike days, leading railway operator Northern to advise customers not to travel all week.

Steve Nott was among the group of strikers protesting in Barrow yesterday morning.

“It was even better attended – there was around 50 people around the station at one point,” Mr Nott, who has worked on the railways for nearly 20 years, said.

“We had plenty of people turning up with cakes, biscuits and water. There was great public support.

“Morale was excellent, people are determined to back the union’s permission and to fight.

“There’s been further talks which took place on Wednesday but no further offer made

“It almost seems antagonist from the Government towards the union and the members.

“It’s making the members feel more aggrieved and the resolve hardening further on the picket lines.

“This is a fight about jobs and the pays and conditions around jobs.

“There are more talks planned for today. Unfortunately, we’re further away from a resolution to any of this than we were at the start of the week and it shouldn’t be like that.”

The union is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has warned industrial action will continue until a settlement is reached and that disruption could last well into the autumn.