The Transport Secretary has made it clear his position is to “facilitate and assist” a deal within the long-running rail dispute fairly than become involved in negotiations.
Mark Harper wrote to the chief of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) following a gathering final week which the minister described as “constructive and optimistic”.
He wrote: “We each agree the commercial dispute on the railways has gone on too lengthy.
“It’s dangerous in your members, dropping out on pay and time beyond regulation, dangerous for companies who rely on trains to deliver them items and clients and dangerous for individuals throughout our nation who rely on the railways.
“Worse, disruption pushes an increasing number of individuals away from utilizing the railways, a few of whom won’t ever come again.
“We each need a long-term sustainable railway that gives each nice service and rewarding jobs.
“On daily basis’s industrial motion makes that tougher to ship.”
Mr Harper stated there was a approach ahead to satisfy everybody’s wants, including: “By modernising working practices, we will ship the financial savings that decrease post-Covid passenger numbers require, restore monetary sustainability and never place an unfair burden on taxpayers.
“My position is to facilitate and assist, not negotiate.
“Negotiations will proceed between commerce unions and employers, however I can see scope for settlement.”
He stated higher info sharing between the Rail Minister, commerce unions and people main the negotiations on behalf of the employers can velocity up the method.
“We’ll quickly convene an extra assembly to assist advance, with the nice religion of all events, settlement discussions and progress on this dispute.
“I need to work with you and employers in good religion to assist resolve these long-standing points, and assist the employers and also you attain a decision that’s truthful to all.
“I’d hope this may result in progress that may help you name off industrial motion.”
Members of the RMT are because of stage a recent wave of strikes subsequent month at Community Rail and 14 practice operators which is able to cripple providers.
Mr Harper has additionally met with leaders of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Affiliation and is because of maintain talks with officers from the practice drivers union Aslef later this week.
Disputes over pay, jobs and situations stay deadlocked regardless of months of talks and industrial motion.
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