Train strikes: Network Rail says it is ‘on the right path’ towards securing deal to stop walkouts
Network Rail is “on the right path” towards agreeing a pay deal with staff to stop train strikes, the company’s chief negotiator has told Sky News.
It comes as passengers faced more disruption from a fresh round of industrial action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) today.
Around half of Britain’s railway lines were closed and just one in five services were running as 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators stage two 48-hour walkouts – one that started on Tuesday and another which will begin on Friday.
Passengers have been hit by more disruption, including at Waterloo station in London
‘Significant disruption’ as people return to work – strikes latest
Many places have no services, including most of Scotland and Wales. Drivers in the Aslef union will strike on Thursday.
‘2,000 people need to change vote for deal to pass’
Network Rail operates Britain’s railway infrastructure. Its chief negotiator Tim Shoveller told Sky News that the company wants to “make clarifications” to the RMT about the offer its members rejected and suggested it will be resubmitted and put to another vote by members.
“We think we’re about 2,000 people short to secure the new deal, so we’re on the right path,” Mr Shoveller said.
He said: “We made really significant progress in September, when we put a new offer on the table that was worth 9% over two years and no compulsory redundancies until 2025 – and a whole load of other things the unions have been asking for.
“Two of the three unions (Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association – TSSA) accepted that, and we know with some quite high results from our employees who voted for the deal even though RMT suggested they shouldn’t vote for the deal.”
He added: “There’s a new contract available within the maintenance organisation that actually has a much higher salary – so some people are nervous about moving on to that contract because it has different financial rates for overtime, for example. It’s quite complex so we think that by explaining that better, ideally with the RMT’s support, that would do the deal.”
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RMT members ‘need to get off picket line’
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has told Sky News “there is a fair and reasonable pay offer on the table” and said it is “deeply unhelpful” that RMT members have chosen to continue strikes this week rather than holding further discussions in an attempt to end the dispute.
But RMT boss Mick Lynch has hit out at ministers, saying that while he was available and keen to negotiate throughout the Christmas period the other side was busy “enjoying the holidays”.
Thawing of tensions behind the scenes?
Industrial action dominated the final few months of 2022 and so far 2023 looks set to be the same.
Huge disruption has hit the UK’s transport network as well as the health service and many other industries, and there is more to come with teachers likely to walk out later this month.
As Christmas approached the language hardened on both sides as the government and the union bosses each accused the other of stalling talks.
But as the New Year begins has there been a slight thawing of tensions behind the scenes?
There are murmurings that RMT union chief Mick Lynch has been more open in negotiations and rail minister Huw Merriman is set to meet the Aslef train drivers’ union early next week.
Meanwhile, Tim Shoveller, chief negotiator of Network Rail, told Sky News he believes they are “on the right path” to achieve a pay deal and bring an end to the dispute.
This would come as a relief to the hospitality sector which reportedly lost out on £1.5bn in December, in part due to cancellations associated with strikes, according to the industry body UKHospitality.
A breakthrough on the rail network could encourage other sectors to agree their own deals with the government, particularly given the prominence of the RMT’s Mick Lynch in this industrial standoff so far – where he leads others may follow.
But any progress is still very slow, and as it stands January will still see its share of strikes.
Read more:
Rail workers warned there is ‘not a bottomless pit of money’
Fresh wave of strikes in January – here’s who is taking action, when and why
Mr Lynch, the union’s general secretary, told Sky News: “What has happened is we had a meeting with the railway secretary on 15 December, and we’d already given notice of action, and they’ve done nothing since that time, over Christmas, enjoying the holidays.
“We were available to meet and they didn’t want to meet us. So they’ve waited until the strikes come to make these noises, but if they’d wanted to get a settlement and get the strikes off, they could have taken a bit more action and got things moving.”
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RMT chief: ‘Govt is not telling the truth’
Mr Lynch added it is the “direct responsibility” of Mr Harper that negotiations with rail companies fell through at the last minute in December.
He said: “We were talking to the train-operating companies about a potential settlement and working on documentation with them, and at the last minute the Department for Transport (DfT) – and he is the secretary of state – the department for transport intervened and insisted that driver-only operation of trains, the removal of guards from every train in Britain, was put into the documents.
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“I know he did that because the people I talk to on the other side of the table have told me that the DfT have insisted that it’s in there. So, that prevented any move forward on the issue.”
However, Mr Harper denied that ministers intervened in rail strike negotiations in December to stop 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 trade unions on Network Rail, as he urged the RMT union to “get off the picket line” and do the same.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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