There is “not a bottomless pit of money” to be spent on rising employees’ pay, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has warned the RMT union – as rail workers undertake additional strike motion at the moment.
Mr Harper advised Sky News “there is a fair and reasonable pay offer on the table” and mentioned it’s “deeply unhelpful” that RMT members have chosen to proceed strikes this week somewhat than holding additional discussions in an try to finish the dispute.
“It’s not a bottomless pit of taxpayers’ money here,” he mentioned.
“The taxpayers put a huge amount of investment into the rail industry over the last few years when it was hit with huge impact from the pandemic when people weren’t travelling.
“And I feel you have to have a suggestion that is truthful to the people who work within the business, nevertheless it’s additionally truthful to the taxpayer that is selecting up the tab – and that is the stability that we’re making an attempt to strike.”
‘Significant disruption’ as folks return to work – strikes newest
About 40,000 members of the RMT union from Network Rail and 14 practice operators are taking industrial motion at the moment, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday – which means most companies nationwide is not going to run.
Train drivers are additionally set to stage a one-day walkout on Thursday, which means the UK’s rail community will probably be crippled all through the primary working week of 2023.
Passengers have been urged to solely journey if vital.
Speaking from a picket line, RMT boss Mick Lynch advised Sky News a deal is “achievable in the next few days”, including that “the companies know what they need to do”.
Mr Lynch mentioned his union members want “a settlement that addresses all of the issues” and warned they could “ballot again” if an settlement just isn’t achieved.
“Our proposals and our needs are quite modest in this dispute,” he added.
Mr Lynch additionally repeated his declare that ministers have been “undermining efforts to get a settlement” and had “torpedoed” an settlement in December.
But Mr Harper denied that ministers intervened in rail strike negotiations in December to cease a deal, saying: “That absolutely isn’t true.”
He added that the “very fair pay offer on the table” has been accepted by two of the commerce unions on Network Rail, as he urged the RMT union to “get off the picket line” and do the identical.
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RMT strike days will see roughly half of the community shut down, with simply 20% of regular companies anticipated to run. These trains may even begin later and end a lot sooner than common, with journeys solely attainable between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Mr Lynch mentioned the federal government must set out its precise proposals to maneuver ahead the negotiations.
Referring to the transport secretary, he mentioned: “I would go and meet him now if he wants, or he can come here and meet me, and we can hammer some things out.
“What we hold listening to is similar stuff from the federal government throughout the sectors that they wish to facilitate an settlement, however they do not really do something.”
Ahead of this week’s industrial motion, the Department for Transport warned that passengers have “rightly had enough of rail strikes” – and known as on unions to cease.
A spokesperson mentioned: “The government has demonstrated it is being reasonable and stands ready to facilitate a resolution to rail disputes. It’s time the unions came to the table and played their part as well.
“Inflation-matching pay will increase for all public-sector employees would value everybody extra within the long-term – worsening debt, fuelling inflation, and costing each family an additional £1,000.”
Source: information.sky.com”