Business sec hopeful dispute will be resolved as rail workers stage second day of industrial action
17 December 2022, 12:11 | Updated: 17 December 2022, 12:20
Rail workers began the second half of their latest two-day strike today, as the Business Secretary says he is 'hopeful' the row will be resolved "sooner rather than later".
Speaking to Sky News as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union got ready for another day of walk outs as part of a long running dispute over conditions and pay, Grant Shapps said: "We certainly don't want to see the strikes take place, they don't help anybody.
"We do think there are some reasonable pay deals on the table...when it comes to trains, there's an offer there on the table of some 8-9% depending on the particular area people are in, in return for modernisations.
"So we don't think these strikes are necessary.
"We certainly want to see people being able to get around this Christmas and I very much hope to see (strikes) come to an end sooner rather than later."
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Yesterday, RMT boss Mick Lynch told the channel he was "always optimistic" about a resolution to the dispute, even though there has been a lack of progress thus far.
He said: "Resolutions to disputes are about compromises.
"We understand what the companies want and they understand what we need.
"So we need some compromise on some of the conditions they're putting on the offer and we'll need an improvement in the pay offer.
"That is achievable, in my view."
The RMT is involved in two separate disputes, with Network Rail, where the union represents around 20,000 maintenance workers and signallers, and the Rail Delivery Group, where were it counts around 20,000 workers at 14 train firms among its members.
Members of from groups stage industrial action today, with further strikes taking place 3-4 January and 6-7 January.
RMT members at Network Rail are also set to walk out on Christmas eve at 6.30pm until 6am on December 27.
People have been warned not to travel by train today unless it's absolutely necessary.
Strikes by Unite union members at bus firm Abellio will continue, which will affect areas of central, south and west London.
Meanwhile, highways workers will walk out in the north west, north east, and Yorkshire until midnight, and other areas in England will be affected in the weeks ahead.
National Highways has said plans are in place to address any issues that arise.
Next week attention will turn to the NHS, with nurses and ambulance crews planning walkouts over pay.
On Tuesday, nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage a second strike, with ambulance workers walking off the job on Wednesday.
