Transport Secretary Mark Harper: We won’t blink first in stand-off with rail, NHS and other unions

Transport Secretary Mark Harper arguing that giving in to unions would not be in the public’s interests (PA Wire)

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Government would not blink first in the stand-off with unions striking on the railways, the NHS and other sectors.

He defended the Government’s stance against bigger pay rises being demanded by unions as being in the wider public interest.

Asked if the Government had a duty to blink first to end the paralysis hitting the country, Mr Harper told GB News: “No.

“It’s very important that we actually are mindful of the interest of the wider public and the taxpayer.”

England faces another “Winter of Discontent” with strikes on the train network, by nurses, ambulance crews, postal workers and the threat of walk-outs by more civil servants and firefighters.

Condeming the militant RMT union’s series of strikes which started on Tuesday, Mr Harper added: “These rail strikes are going to force some families to have another virtual Christmas.

“That is terrible when the unions have had a very reasonable pay offer.”

He argued that the unions were being offered “the sort of pay rises that is taking place in the private sector which is where most people work”.

Official figures though suggest that on average pay rises in the private sector are higher than for public sector workers.

But the Cabinet minister claimed that support for the strikes was waning, particularly for the RMT walkout.

Asked about the threat of new laws to restrict strike action, he said: “We’ve already introduced the legislation recently on minimum service levels in the transport sector.

“And one of the things that the Prime Minister is very keen to do is to widen that legislation to deal with other areas of policy and work is taking place at pace on that and that legislation will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said it was hard to see hope in the negotiations on rail strikes,

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are undertaking two 48-hour strikes at Network Rail – and 14 train companies – from Tuesday and Friday.

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Asked if there is a glimmer of hope in the negotiations, Mr Haines told BBC Breakfast: “It’s hard to see that today. I’ve learned, you know, through a long career, that sometimes the light is just around the corner.

“But where I stand today, I’d have to say that with the level of disruption the RMT are imposing, the way forward isn’t obvious.”

A strike by members of Unite at Network Rail will not go ahead after they voted to accept the offer.

Network Rail had offered a five per cent pay rise for this year – backdated to January – with another four per cent at the start of 2023 and a guarantee of no compulsory job losses until January 2025.

The RMT’s executive recommended rejecting the offer, saying it was linked to “significant” changes to working practices.

RMT workers at Network Rail will also strike from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27.

The RMT said 63.6% voted to reject Network Rail’s offer on an 83% turnout in what general secretary Mick Lynch said was a “huge rejection” of the public body’s “substandard offer”.

“The Government is refusing to lift a finger to prevent these strikes and it is clear they want to make effective strike action illegal in Britain,” the union boss added.

“We will resist that and our members, along with the entire trade union movement, will continue their campaign for a square deal for workers, decent pay increases and good working conditions.”

Meanwhile, talks to avert the nursing strike have failed after the union leader behind the action accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of “belligerence” and refusing to discuss pay.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen said nurses were “not getting an extra penny” despite their talks on Monday.

Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland now seem set to begin their first day of strike action on Thursday, with a second date set for Tuesday.

Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden warned the Government “cannot eliminate” the risks of a wave of strike action throughout the month after chairing an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday.