Fresh rail strikes were confirmed on Thursday (27 April) and are set to impact Liverpool’s hosting of Eurovision next month, as well as the FA Cup final in June.
Members of the RMT union will walk out on 13 May, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest, while members of the train drivers’ union Aslef will also strike on 12 May. Aslef has also called strikes on 31 May and 3 June, with the latter set to hit travel to and from the FA Cup final.
"Sadly, we are no longer surprised by the disappointing news of yet more crippling strike action across the rail network," said BTA chief executive Wratten.
"While the world’s eyes are fixed on the UK as we host the FA Cup Final and Eurovision - for the first time in 25 years on behalf of Ukraine - it is disgraceful that the government and unions can’t coordinate to end the relentless industrial action that has forced the country to stop in its tracks."
Wratten added the ongoing uncertainty over the reliability of rail services in the UK came as a setback for prime minister Rishi Sunak’s aim to champion business.
However, he also stressed: "The unions need to stop pointing fingers and come to a reasonable solution with the government, to support their rail staff while accommodating inflation rates."
The RMT union confirmed on Thursday it had rejected the Rail Delivery Group’s latest offer, and was balloting its members across 14 train operating companies to seek a further six-month strike mandate.
The Aslef union, meanwhile, said that because it represents more than 96% of train drivers, it was "very unlikely" services would run on strike days. "Most of the drivers have not had a pay increase at all since 2019 and with inflation still well over 10% and the cost of living spiralling, this is not acceptable," said the union.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: “Passengers have been forced to endure the RMT’s strike action for almost a year, yet the RMT executive is intent on continuing to force its members to lose even more pay. That’s despite having a best and final offer, similar to the pay offer their Network Rail members recently voted to overwhelmingly accept.
"By yet again denying their members a chance to have a say, and then striking over the UK’s first Eurovision event in 25 years – hosted for Ukraine - the RMT are simply further snubbing the very passengers they serve."
