The RMT Union has announced that rail staff will also now walk-out on Christmas Eve in strikes over jobs, pay, and working conditions.
With many planning to travel across the UK over the festive period, the hopes of making to their destination for the big day without a hitch is now under threat as the RMT Union has this week announced that more industrial action is on the way – with thousands of rail staff now set to strike on Christmas Eve too.
This is on top of the already-announced strike dates over the next couple of weeks and in the first few days of the new year.
After yesterday rejecting the most recent revised pay offer, RMT has decided to put a new offer from Network Rail to members in an electronic referendum closing 12 December – with union bosses, once again, urging its members to reject proposals.
This means that all strike action planned for December 13,14, 16 and 17 will go ahead as planned, as well as further strike action from 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am to 27 December.
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All strike action planned for December 13,14, 16 and 17 will go ahead. Furthermore, further strike action will take place between 18.00 hours on December 24 through to 05.59 hours December 27 2022.https://t.co/kYRjYfjQZo
Speaking as the new strike dates have been announced, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was unfortunate that the union had been “compelled to take this action” due to the “continuing intransigence” of the employers, adding: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s chief negotiator, accused the RMT of “playing fast and loose with people’s Christmas plans”, adding: “This response from the RMT to a significantly enhanced offer exposes their true priority – using the British public and Network Rail workers as pawns in a fight with the government.
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“What use is a referendum that means the strike disruption is inevitable?”.
The RMT Union has announced that rail staff will now also stage strikes on Christmas Eve / Credit: National Rail
Rail Strikes Dates
Here’s everything you need to know.
December 2022
The RMT Union has announced two 48-hour strikes this month, which will affect the network nationally on the following dates:
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Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December 2022
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December 2022
This is likely to affect most train companies across the UK.
National Rail says that, although the rail industry is working hard to minimise the effect strike action will have on services, it’s “inevitable” that services will be cancelled or severely disrupted on strike days, and it’s likely that there will be a very limited service on these days, with no trains at all on some routes.
Services are also likely to start later on days following the end of the strike action.
There are also set to be other forms of industrial action taking place on “a much more localised level” on different dates this month, which will only affect one or two train companies – with Avanti West Coast one of the train providers set to see walk-outs.
Friday 2 and Saturday 3 December – action by Unite union, which will affect East Midlands Railway only.
Sunday 11 and Monday 12 December – action by RMT union, which will affect Avanti West Coast only.
Friday 23 and Saturday 24 December – action by Unite union, which will affect East Midlands Railway only.
This is on top of the already-announced strike dates in December and January 2023 / Credit: National Rail
January 2023
As we head into the new year, two more 48-hour strikes affecting the network nationally have been announced on the following dates:
A FREE family-friendly lantern parade is returning to Altrincham this Christmas
Thomas Melia
There’s a family-friendly lantern parade making its way back to Altrincham town centre this Christmas and it’s completely free.
If you thought the Christmas season couldn’t get any better, you were wrong, as now you can have your very own Rapunzel moment as Altrincham welcomes the return of its lantern parade.
Before these dazzling paper creations light up this Greater Manchester town, there will be a very exciting Nativity Trail spread across various locations starting at Stamford Square.
Not only this, you can also expect a range of family-friendlyactivities running throughout the day featuring everything from live music and storytelling.
And if you’re after getting stuck in yourself rather than just watching from the sidelines, there’ll be lantern making workshops taking place on the day.
Although these classes will be free for all to enjoy, any families looking at attending will still need to book a ticket to create and design their own lantern at at OYEZ Arts in Altrincham Town Hall.
Previous lantern parades that have been held in Altrincham have seen lots of exciting and fun festive surprises with live donkeys trotting through the town last year.
The event itself encourages parade-goers to gather in Goose Green from 4pm before the official walk and lighting takes place from 4.45pm.
This illuminated walk includes a full Nativity cast, local schoolchildren, lantern puppets alongside a live soundtrack courtesy of Sale District Scout and Guide Band.
With the lantern parade finishing in Stamford Square and expected to last just under one hour, there will be a live Nativity performance happening at 5.30pm.
Mandy White, Director of Altrincham BID, said: “The Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey truly capture the spirit of Christmas in Altrincham. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the town and celebrate the festive season.”
Altrincham’s Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey returns on Saturday 13 December from 12pm with lantern lighting at 4pm onwards – all events and further info. HERE.
Featured Images – Supplied (via Altrincham BID)
News
‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
Emily Sergeant -
6th December 2022 
