Train passengers face further disruption this summer, as RMT members voted overwhelmingly for further strike action.
A ballot of members working across 14 train operating companies massively reaffirmed a mandate for further strike action, with 90% of votes cast in favor of holding more strikes over the next six months.
Mick Lynch, the union's leader, described the result as a de facto referendum on the dispute with an average turnout of nearly 70% in each company.
It's clear from these results that members are not prepared to accept a pay offer based on mass job cuts and major attacks on their terms and conditions, Lynch said.
This sends a clear message to the employers that the enormous anger among rail workers is very real and they must acknowledge that fact, face reality and make better proposals. They need to get around the table with the RMT and negotiate in good faith for a better deal for rail workers. The unions involved in disputes have to reballot their members every six months to legally continue with industrial action.
The next 24-hour strike will take place on May 13 at the Eurovision song contest final.
The meeting follows the collapse of talks last month. Lynch said the government pressured the RDG to renege on a 9% strike deal, which the union had been discussing for several weeks, by making the first year's pay deal contingent on withdrawing its mandate for strike action.
The RDG said they would only implement the first-year payment of 5% if the union terminated its industrial mandate, which means no further strike action could take place.
Earlier this week, the transport secretary, Mark Harper, criticized the rail unions over the 13 May strike.
Harper said rail workers should work in solidarity with Ukrainian railway staff who have been killed instead of cynically targeting Eurovision, which was won by Ukraine last year.
The train drivers' union, Aslef, also plans to strike on May 12th. The Fed has repeatedly rejected a pay offer of 4% a year for two years, describing it as risible given that inflation is at 10%.
Further strikes will be held on May 31 and June, the day of the FA Cup final, as fans are travelling from north-west England to London to see two Manchester teams play at Wembley.