'We're in it for the long hauľ' rail unions warn

THE latest rail strike hit Eurovision and several Premier League football matches yesterday as union bosses threatened even more walkouts.

- Berny Torre

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers claimed it was blameless for the strike coinciding with the Eurovision final in Liverpool, insisting employment law had forced its hand.

Meanwhile, Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, which walked out on Friday, said: "We are in this for the long haul and there will be more strikes." RMT general secretary Mick Lynch told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday: "Today is the last day under the anti-union laws that we can have a strike under the mandate. You get six months to run action. After that six months, you cannot take any more action.