THE lesson of recent national rail disputes is that rail unions need to work more closely together rather than competing, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch told a public meeting attended by over 50 reps from the RMT and TSSA unions on Sunday.

RMT’s national executive has proposed a prospectus for convergence with TSSA to meet challenges of new technology and long-overdue reorganisation of Britain’s railways.

TSSA representative Ian Rashbrook recalled rail union co-operation in 1993 to defend rail workers’ pensions at the time of Tory rail privatisation. 

Sarah Cundy, chair of RMT young members’ committee, pointed out if Labour wins the general election, rail nationalisation will be back on the agenda. 

It is more important than ever that both unions work together to ensure proper career progression for young workers, an end to outsourcing and levelling up of wages, she said.