A fresh nationwide rail strike later this month has been condemned by the leader of the Business Travel Association.
Chief executive Clive Wratten hit out after the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) confirmed a 24-hour walkout as it escalated the ongoing national rail dispute over pay, job security and conditions.
Staff at nine train operating companies as well as Network Rail will walk out from midday on September 26.
The strike action has been timed to coincide with the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
It follows industrial action on August 18 and 20 across companies including Avanti West Coast, c2c, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, LNER and Southeastern.
Train drivers at 12 rail companies will also strike again on September 15, accord to the Aslef union.
But Wratten said: ”The news of another train strike just as business travel should be hitting its peak in September will have a devastating impact on companies of all sizes across the country.
“We urge the Unions to work with the train companies to keep vital intercity links working so that business can continue.
“The cost of living crisis is hurting us all, not just train drivers. Most businesses do not have the option to strike and cripple a country.