London Daily

Focus on the big picture.

Families face ‘virtual Christmas’ due to rail strikes, says Transport Secretary

Families face ‘virtual Christmas’ due to rail strikes, says Transport Secretary

Mark Harper hit out at rail unions, as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union due to stage two 48-hour strikes this coming week.
The Transport Secretary has warned that some families could face a “virtual Christmas” due to rail strikes over the festive season.

Mark Harper hit out at rail unions, as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are due to stage two 48-hour strikes this coming week following months of industrial action over the deadlocked row.

Writing for the Telegraph newspaper, Mark Harper said: “This year, many families may have no choice but to alter their plans and have a virtual Christmas again. This isn’t due to a new public health pandemic, but because of rail strikes, planned by the RMT union to cause misery during the festive period.”

The Cabinet minister said that the “dire” situation was not “inevitable”, as he said that the RMT union could end it.


It comes as RMT general secretary Mick Lynch wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying a meeting between the two men was now the best prospect of making any progress.

But Mr Harper said that the Government had “played its part” in attempting to bring the dispute to a close, as he placed on onus on union leadership.

He wrote: “I want this dispute to end as soon as possible. We have agreed to continue our efforts to reach a deal whilst remaining fair to the taxpayer.

“In the first few weeks of this new Government being in office, we have demonstrated that we are willing to be reasonable – to discuss matters with union leaders face to face and to try and facilitate a resolution to this dispute by enabling a new and improved pay offer to be made by the employers.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
0:00
0:00
Close
CIA and MI6 Chiefs Unite Amid Global Crises
UK Tycoon Mike Lynch's Cause of Death Revealed: Autopsy Report
Mass Protests Erupt Across France Against New Prime Minister Barnier
Iranian Plots to Kill Jews in Europe Unveiled
Huawei Poised for Major AI Chip Unveil at Shenzhen Event
Nvidia’s AI chips are cheaper to rent in China than US
China ends tariffs on all goods exported to China from the poorest countries in the world it has diplomatic ties with, including 33 African nations
Blinken May Not Seek Another Term Due To Family Priorities
Labour Pushes for Special Tribunal Against Russia for Ukraine Invasion
Oil Companies to Contest Judicial Review of North Sea Projects
Ed Balls Urges Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to Address Winter Fuel Payments Controversy
British Army Major General Dismissed for Unwanted Advances
Campaigners Urge Bold Actions to Combat Rising Heart Disease in UK
UK Requires One Trillion Pounds Investment for Economic Growth
Plan to House Asylum Seekers at Former Dambusters Home Dropped
UK Drops Indecent Assault Charges Against Harvey Weinstein
Return of Brazilian Artworks to Bahia
UK Signs Landmark International AI Treaty
Demand for Justice After Death of Ugandan Runner Set on Fire
Ukraine's Major Government Reshuffle: Andrii Sybiha Appointed New Foreign Minister
North Korea Executes Officials Over Flood Response
French Woman Testifies in Landmark Rape Trial
Sicily Yacht Disaster: Fatal Asphyxiation Claimed More Lives
Michel Barnier Appointed as Prime Minister of France
The art technique of Grandma Mei Ling, age 82
Mongolia Refuses to Arrest Putin Despite ICC Warrant
UK State Pension to Increase by Over £400 Annually
Amazon Announces 10% Pay Increase for UK Workers
Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Demands Swift Justice
French Police Clear Migrant Camp Near Calais
New Law Proposes Jail Time for Covering Up Sewage Dumping in England and Wales
John Swinney's Government Programme Faces Criticism in Scotland
France Pilots Mobile Phone Ban in Schools
Priti Patel Eliminated in First Round of Tory Leadership Race
And Justice for ALL: Elon Musk threatens to go after Brazilian government assets
WHO-Led Study Finds No Link Between Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer
US Charges Hamas Leaders With Terrorism Over October 7 Attack on Israel
Russian Missile Strike Kills 49 in Poltava, Ukraine
Major Cabinet Resignations in Ukraine
Tory Leadership Candidates Criticize Rivals' Promises to Leave ECHR
Campaigners Propose Pay-Per-Mile Charge for UK Electric Cars
Labour Urged to Shift Asylum Policy Rhetoric
Hossein Shamkhani: The Rise of an Oil Tycoon
Putin Defies ICC Arrest Warrant with Mongolia Visit
Frenchman On Trial for Decade-long Abuse of Drugged Wife
The British bus driver explains to usual suspects that they cannot travel without a ticket. Education is important.
Irish Police Arrest Enoch Burke, the teacher who refuses to endorse and affirm transgender ideology
US Soldier Attacked in Turkey
Switzerland Urged to Reconsider Its 500-Year Neutrality
AfD's Historic Victory in Thuringia State Election, Germany
×