‘I love train strikes… I’ve been WFH all week!’: Workers rejoice over a week spent on strikes at home

Mick Lynch and his union RMT continued their seemingly endless strike action this morning, cheering workers who have been allowed to work from home.

Rail travelers face travel disruptions for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as thousands of workers took industrial action over disputes over jobs, wages and working conditions.

Services are once again paralyzed by the strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union at Network Rail and 14 train operators.

The action will last 48 hours and follows a disruption on Thursday by train drivers from the Aslef union which caused widespread disruption.

A man walks past an entrance to London Bridge Station, which is closed to the public during a strike action by the RMT union this morning

The now familiar images of an empty train station as strikes prevent people from boarding the trains

But the disruption was welcomed by office workers who had been told by their bosses about WFH.

Taking to Twitter, one worker said: “I love strike days. That means I can come to WFH all week and save money. Due to the strikes and the unreliable service that is constantly being delayed or cancelled.’

Another spoke up: “Thanks to the train strike all week WFH”.

And another chimed in: “WFH all week, annoying but the strikes are having little effect on many office types as flexibility has taken hold.

The strikes got people on Twitter excited about the prospect of working from home this week

Deserted platforms at Paddington Station in London on the fourth day of this week’s strikes

“The unions know this and know that their strikes are ineffective, but they cannot back down and go too deep.”

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan has warned it is “inevitable” that more strikes will take place unless the blockade is lifted.

He suggested strikes could escalate and said train drivers wanted to act “harder and faster” after years of not getting a pay rise.

He accused the railway companies and the government of “playing games” instead of making serious attempts to resolve the wage dispute.

People hastily change their travel plans to find the gates at Victoria Station locked due to ongoing Aslef strike action yesterday

RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch was seen smiling at his headquarters in Lorraine by ITV on Tuesday

“The situation is getting worse and my members now want to go harder and faster because there is no progress,” he said.

Only about 20% of normal traffic runs on Friday, trains start later and end earlier.

The strike ends a week of industrial action on the railroads, leaving the dispute deadlocked.

Talks are expected to take place early next week but unions continue to accuse the government of blocking a deal.

The ministers deny that they are interfering in the negotiations.

People walk in front of the disused departure boards at Euston railway station during Thursday’s Aslef strike

Pickets will be set up again in front of train stations on Friday.

Unions, including those representing railway workers, reacted with anger to a government announcement on Thursday about proposed legislation to ensure a minimum level of service during strikes in industry, including railways.

Officials said legislation was unworkable and could lead to more industrial action in response to the controversial move.

It was revealed yesterday that striking train drivers have received record wage increases of up to 62 percent in recent years – more than double the rate of inflation over the same period.

Industry figures show that the average driver salary has increased by more than a third – 34 percent – since 2012.

However, the highest increases for 15 rail operators covering most of the country were 55 percent and 62 percent.

For comparison, the CPI inflation rate is about 27 percent over the decade.

That means the average driver’s salary is now £60,055.

Aslef has yet to receive a formal salary offer but could receive one next week.

The RMT has meanwhile rejected Network Rail’s offer of a 9 per cent increase over two years, which is worth up to 14 per cent for the lowest wage.

It has rejected a separate offer of 8 percent from 14 rail companies also involved in the dispute.