Rail union barons ‘ blocking chance of ending strike’
RAIL union barons have been accused of conspiring to cause chaos this week by refusing to put the latest pay offer to workers.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said train crews in England are being ‘denied’ the chance to have their say on pay, raising the prospect of walkouts dragging on for months.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, has refused to put the Government’s 8 per cent offer to members and warned he was in it ‘for the long haul’.
Meanwhile, the RMT union has snubbed a 9 per cent increase for its members working for 14 train operators covering most of England. Thousands of drivers and crew in England walked out yesterday morning – the tenth time since June last year – in the first of three strikes in four days.
They will walk out on Saturday, hitting thousands of fans travelling to the Epsom Derby in Surrey and FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London.
Industry analysis seen by the Mail estimates rail strikes have cost the sector around £900million since last June. Mr Harper said: ‘By targeting much-loved sporting events like the FA Cup final and the Derby, rail union leaders have cynically conspired to dampen many passengers’ summer plans this week – frustratingly, this disruption is avoidable.
‘The well-paid union bosses at Aslef and the RMT continue to block offers from train operating companies being put to their members in a vote. The men and women working on our railway are not only being denied a say on a pay increase, but some are losing out on almost £1,800 of earnings.
‘More interested in playing politics’
All because of strike action being forced on them by their leaders who claim to represent their best interests, but are more interested in playing politics.’
But Mr Whelan snubbed the vote call and claimed that both sides had made ‘zero’ progress. Speaking from a picket line in Newcastle, he said: ‘Nobody has come to the table with [an offer] that’s viable.
‘We set out our red lines and they keep producing deals with the red lines in them that they know are destined to fail. It seems to us that the Government and the employers don’t want a resolution.’
Mr Whelan also claimed it was a ‘coincidence’ that one of the union’s strike days was the same as the FA Cup final when asked if it was intended to maximise damage.
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said: ‘We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and
damaging disruption. Passengers with advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.’
Last night Mr Whelan said strikes of a week or more were possible if laws aimed at limiting the impact of walkouts are passed. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill would force unions to run a certain level of services on strike days and is making its way through Parliament.
Speaking on TalkTV, Mr Whelan was asked whether it would lessen the impact of action. He said: ‘Not really. I think all that happens is it takes us five days to have one day’s action, you make strikes harder and longer, you make the ability to recover from it more difficult.’