Nearly there on a deal: Rail bosses hopeful as Lynch ‘softens stance’
RAIL union and industry bosses are ‘nearly there’ in their efforts to agree a pay deal, raising hopes fresh walkouts could be averted.
Sources told the Daily Mail that RMT union boss Mick Lynch has softened his stance and has been ‘ the most deal- minded’ they have ever found him in recent meetings.
Negotiators are understood to be looking at using language ‘creatively’, particularly around reforming the industry, so both sides can better sell a deal.
A source said: ‘ Mick has been the most deal-minded he’s been. He needs a way out of the dispute.
‘ Rather than things just being dismissed, he’s been putting forward practical solutions. There’s been talk of using language creatively to get a deal over the line.
‘We’re nearly there, although next week’s strikes are looking baked in. A deal by the end of January is not impossible.’ But the deadline for avoiding chaos next week was missed last night as rail operators need to give some staff, such as train drivers, at least a week’s notice to roster them.
The RMT will stage 48-hour strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday and again on Friday and Saturday next week.
Members of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, will also walkout on Thursday, wiping out most of the week’s services.
Sources said although the RMT and Network Rail, which manages signalling and track maintenance, were edging closer to a deal, a separate dispute with 14 train operators covering most of the country will likely drag on longer.
However, more trains – as many as eight in ten – will be able to run on strike days once the Network Rail dispute is resolved, compared with about one in five now.
A government source said: ‘After two years of virtual Christmases [ due to the Covid-19 pandemic], the British public deserve better than to have their festive celebrations impacted by the transport unions’ strikes.
‘The Transport Secretary and rail minister have worked hard to facilitate a fair and reasonable offer, which two unions have accepted, and it is incredibly disappointing that some continue to strike.
We urge them to step back, reconsider and get back round the table, so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.’ The RMT, which has been striking since June, staged two 48-hour walkouts in the run-up to Christmas.
It is estimated the union has caused billions of pounds worth of damage to the economy.
It has so far turned down a 9 per cent pay rise over two years from Network Rail. It includes a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies until January 2025.
It has also snubbed an offer of 8 per cent from the train operators. The union was contacted for comment.
It comes as crowds of people were left waiting at major train stations yesterday morning after the RMT’s latest strike, which started at 6pm on Christmas Eve, and finished yesterday at 6am.
Photos showed hundreds of passengers packed inside King’s Cross and Paddington stations, with some journeys delayed due to the late handover of engineering works.
Travellers reported ‘chaos’ at Paddington in west London, with no trains having arrived or departed by 10am.
A ban on overtime by the RMT, part of its industrial action, is in place until Monday. Because several operators rely on overtime working to run a full timetable, it means there could be hundreds of cancellations between now and Monday.
‘Resolution by end of January’