Minister warns rail unions strikes 'won't work'
EXC: Minister warns rail unions strikes ‘won’t work’ and they must ‘move with the times to survive’ as latest walkout hits commuters – despite drivers being offered pay hike to £65k
Rail unions were warned strikes ‘will not work’ and they must ‘move with the times to survive’ today as the network was crippled once more.
Transport minister Huw Merriman slammed the ‘completely unnecessary’ industrial action – insisting there is a generous offer on the table.
The intervention, in an article for MailOnline, comes as members of the RMT, including station staff and train managers, stage another walkout.
They are due to strike again on Saturday and July 29, while drivers in Aslef are adding to the chaos with an overtime ban this week.
Passengers have been warned that the action at 14 train companies will see trains start later and finish much earlier than usual. In some areas only around half of services will run, while others will have no services at all.
The intervention, in an article for MailOnline, comes as members of the RMT, including station staff and train managers, stage another walkout
RMT chief Mick Lynch speaks at a strike rally at King’s Cross in London today
Transport minister Huw Merriman slammed the ‘completely unnecessary’ industrial action – insisting there is a generous offer on the table
Mr Merriman said the unions were inflicting ‘more inconvenience’ at a time when families should be ‘looking forward to summer holidays and sports fans should be free to enjoy England hitting boundaries in the Ashes’.
He also highlighted sharp reductions in passenger numbers since Covid, pointing out that was wreaking havoc on the industry’s finances.
‘It makes no sense and is completely unnecessary,’ he said of the strikes.
‘The Government has worked hard to meet with the unions, listen to them and facilitate improved offers on pay and reform.
‘This approach has had success. We’ve settled all disputes involving Network Rail, with RMT union members overwhelmingly accepting fair and reasonable pay offers. This means that more trains can now run on strike days than they previously did.
‘However, when it comes to negotiating with the train operating companies, the RMT position makes little sense.
‘The union’s bosses claim the offer on the table isn’t acceptable, yet they accepted similar terms to settle other disputes.
‘They claim to speak for their members, yet they won’t give them a vote on whether to receive a decent pay rise.
‘They claim to stand up for hard working people, yet they care little about the millions trying to get to work and the damage done to their own industry.’
Mr Merriman argued that some RMT members would gain £1,000 if the offer was accepted, while ASLEF train drivers would see average salaries spike from £60,000 to £65,000.
He said unions were also resisting reforms to create a ‘reliable seven-day a week railway’.
‘They are against the industry gripping costs after receiving billions of pounds in taxpayer support to prop it up during the pandemic,’ he said.
‘Fewer people are using our railways compared with before the pandemic, and the Government’s focus is on creating a modern, efficient railway that move with the times to survive.’
Mr Merriman defended consulting on a controversial overhaul of ticket offices, saying just 10 per cent of tickets are sold over the counter.
‘It’s right that we ask the question about whether rail staff are best to assist passengers from behind a screen or face-to-face on the platform,’ he said.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said striking rail workers were still waiting for an invitation back to the negotiating table.
‘We’ve been on strike for over a year, this campaign’s probably been running for two years,’ Mr Lynch said from a picket line at Euston station in London.
‘The issues are the same. They’re attacking our jobs. They’re making redundancies. They’re closing services.
‘We haven’t had a pay rise for four years and the people that remain, they want to cut our conditions and issue new contracts of employment.
‘There is not an agreement in sight at the moment but we remain available for negotiation with the companies and with the Government, but that’s up to them to invite us back to the table so that we can work up some solutions to the dispute.’
Mr Lynch said striking rail workers were still waiting for an invitation back to the negotiating table
Rail minister Huw Merriman writes for MailOnline
More strike action by rail unions will cause more inconvenience for people over the coming days.
It comes at a time when families should be looking forward to summer holidays and sports fans should be free to enjoy England hitting boundaries in the Ashes, not hit with more disruption.
They’ll face cancelled trains and reduced services as the unions try and grind our railways to a halt. It makes no sense and is completely unnecessary.
The Government has worked hard to meet with the unions, listen to them and facilitate improved offers on pay and reform.
This approach has had success. We’ve settled all disputes involving Network Rail, with RMT union members overwhelmingly accepting fair and reasonable pay offers.
This means that more trains can now run on strike days than they previously did.
However, when it comes to negotiating with the train operating companies, the RMT position makes little sense.
The union’s bosses claim the offer on the table isn’t acceptable, yet they accepted similar terms to settle other disputes.
They claim to speak for their members, yet they won’t give them a vote on whether to receive a decent pay rise.
They claim to stand up for hard working people, yet they care little about the millions trying to get to work and the damage done to their own industry.
And it’s their members who are losing out. Some RMT members would gain £1,000 if the offer was accepted. ASLEF train drivers would see their pay rise from an average of £60,000 to £65,000.
But it’s not only pay increases that union leaders are resisting. They are against reforms to create a reliable 7-day a week railway for the benefit of passengers.
They are against the industry gripping costs after receiving billions of pounds in taxpayer support to prop it up during the pandemic.
Fewer people are using our railways compared with before the pandemic, and the Government’s focus is on creating a modern, efficient railway that move with the times to survive.
Around 10 per cent of tickets are sold over the counter, with some offices selling just one per hour, which is why the industry is currently consulting on ticket office reforms.
It’s right that we ask the question about whether rail staff are best to assist passengers from behind a screen or face-to-face on the platform. This is a consultation and I am listening to everyone’s views.
This Government wants to build a railway fit for the future. Rail strikes won’t work. The industry must adapt to survive.
So my message to union leaders is clear: get off the picket line, put the offers on the table to your members, and play your part in ending this dispute.
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