Britain’s cities look like they are in lockdown today after striking rail workers were accused of ‘exploiting’ the chance to walk out on the first day back at work for millions after the Christmas break in another hammer blow to the economy and businesses

Britain’s cities look like they are in lockdown today after striking rail workers were accused of ‘exploiting’ the chance to walk out on the first day back at work for millions after the Christmas break in another hammer blow to the economy and businesses.

Mick Lynch’s RMT Union will shut down the railways this week as members stage two 48-hour walkouts starting today and again on Friday with the streets of central London deserted during rush hour.  Mr Lynch has claimed strikes may continue beyond May.

Congestion is also down on pre-pandemic levels across the UK after around half of Britain’s railway lines are closed on Tuesday and only a fifth of services are running as thousands of workers at Network Rail and train downed tools. 

Drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday amid claims ministers are seriously considering offering sweeteners to rail workers including more days off, pension benefits and bonuses to end months of strikes.

Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce, Slot Deposit Pulsa Tanpa Potongan said that the strikes are a disaster for businesses, who need a good start to 2023 on what will be a very tough year economically.

Mr Burge said owners were ‘blaming both’ the government and unions for the strikes.He accused the unions of ‘exploiting the situation’ after being protected during two years of lockdowns.

He said: ‘The unions had a frankly light pandemic. They were manning empty trains and empty stations, They were all on furlough – nobody lost their jobs.They were not ambulance workers, doctors or nurses and they are now basically exploiting the situation’.