The largest UK rail strike in 30 years is “completely against everything the travel industry stands for,” the Business Travel Association has insisted.
Chief executive Clive Wratton spoke out as around half the national network was closed after last ditch-talks failed to reach an agreement.
Passengers have been urged by Network Rail to travel by train only if necessary, with only 20% of services expected to run today, Thursday and Saturday in the dispute over pay.
The RMT union is seeking a pay rise of at least 7% to offset the rising cost of living, but it says employers have offered a maximum of 3% – on condition they also accept job cuts and changes to working practices.
Wratten said: “This week’s strikes across the country are completely against everything the travel industry stands for.
“People are being left not able to get to work, stranded in unfamiliar places unable to get home and deprived of hard-won income.
“We urge the government and the unions to get around the table so that we can have the summer we deserve as we recover from the ravages of the pandemic.”