No 10 denies ministers seeking political fight with rail unions
Downing Street has denied that ministers are deliberately seeking a political fight with rail unions, as both sides toughened their language further and the head of the RMT warned the impasse could continue “indefinitely”.
Just 20% of rail services ran on Thursday, in a sixth day of strike action since June involving the RMT and TSSA unions, with further disruption taking place on Saturday, which is likely to affect trains throughout the weekend.
London’s underground and bus services will also be disrupted in the coming days in a parallel strike involving the RMT and the Unite union that is also over pay, working conditions and the threat of job losses.
No 10 and the Department for Transport (DfT) have faced accusations from opposition parties of not seriously trying to find a solution to the rail strike, instead using bellicose language and seeking to blame Labour for union action.
But with no sign of the strikes easing, and other sectors planning or considering action, Downing Street denied the government was seeking a fight.
“The priority is on making sure people who use public transport can get to work, school and hospital appointments without such disruption,” a No 10 source said.
However, in a notably pugnacious statement, a DfT spokesperson accused the RMT of “opting to inflict misery and disrupt the day-to-day lives of millions instead of working with industry to agree a deal that will bring our railways into the 21st century”.
They added: “Today, thousands of A-Level students across the country, many of whom have spent the majority of their college years studying at home due to the pandemic, are now being denied the chance to celebrate their hard work and dedication face to face with peers and teachers.
“It’s clear
Read more on theguardian.com
