Minister: We will not cave in to rail union’s summer strike threat

MINISTERS yesterday vowed to face down union barons over threatened summer rail strikes.

Baroness Vere told the RMT union the Government ‘will not give in to those people trying to hold us to ransom’.

The transport minister added: ‘The Government will face them down because it’s unacceptable and we cannot have British taxpayers shelling out money forever and ever for frankly a system which needs to reform.’

And a Downing Street source insisted the Government would show ‘resolve’.

The RMT announced on Tuesday that thousands of rail workers had voted for strikes following a month-long ballot.

It paves the way for a ‘summer of discontent’ if a deal is not struck with Network Rail and 15 train operators. Walkouts could begin from mid-June.

The dispute is over pay and over claims that Network Rail, which is in charge of infrastructure, plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs. Network Rail insists it has no plans for compulsory redundancies and is instead seeking more flexible working.

Rail bosses fear ministers will cave in once walkouts begin.

A senior source said: ‘The worst thing the Government can do is for the strike to start and then capitulate. That’s our worry to be honest.

‘The Government’s critics would say that it’s really good at holding a line and then retreating a week or two week later.

‘But in industrial relations that’s the worst thing you can do because what you do is tell people it’s worth you going on strike because you get what you want afterwards.’

The RMT’s boss, Mick Lynch, warned strikes would continue for as long as the union’s demands were not met.

‘If they want to face us down we will have to deal with that and that will make the dispute go on for longer,’ he said.

‘If they want to play games like that it will make the situation worse. What I hope the Government will do is encourage the transport operators and the companies they are working through in this situation to come to their senses and create an environment where we can make a deal together.

‘We want a pay deal that reflects the rising cost of living that our members have got. Many of our members haven’t had a pay rise for two to three years.’

The RMT is in talks with Network Rail but has not started negotiations with the 15 train companies.

Ministers have been warned of power blackouts, petrol shortages and empty shelves if strikes do go ahead. Trains supplying power plants could be severely disrupted, hitting electricity for millions of homes.

In response, rail chiefs are drawing up emergency plans to prioritise freight trains on some routes in a bid to keep the lights on and the country moving.

Ministers have been told power supplies could be hit if the strikes last several days.

They want the rail industry to make around £2billion of savings as passenger numbers stabilise at around 75 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

The Government source added: ‘The future of the railway as a viable industry depends upon modernisation. A long series of strikes could drive away people who can work from home.’

‘Must come to their senses’