The RMT’s decision to continue with train strikes next week “will punish millions”, the Transport Secretary said.
Grant Shapps warned that the UK is “now on the cusp of a major disruption that will cause misery to people across the country”.
He also claimed that the RMT union had been repeatedly urged not to continue with “harmful” industrial action and to focus on negotiations.
Shapps said teens preparing for their exams will face the added stress of changing their travel plans, while patients may have to cancel hospital appointments.
He added: “A lot of people who don’t get paid if they can’t go to work face losing money at a time they just can’t afford.”
The talks have failed to resolve a tough dispute over wages, jobs and conditions, and next week’s rail strikes are expected to be the biggest in decades.
“Bribes” strike
They will take place on Tuesday 21st, Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th June.
Some of the largest unions behind the action have also been accused by company secretary Kwasi Kwarteng of “bribing” workers to go on strike.
The Sunday Telegraph claims that several tax-free payments are being offered by several, which are being funded with “strike funds.”
The newspaper says Unite, which has threatened strikes on town halls and bus networks, has been hanging posters on local government buildings announcing its “£ 70 a day strike pay” to staff.
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However, RMT Secretary-General Mick Lynch said thousands of jobs were being cut on rail networks and workers were facing wage increases below inflation.
Network Rail has warned that strikes will cause six days of disruption due to the side effect on services during the intermediate days.
Government “throws petrol on fire”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has criticized the government’s handling of the dispute, claiming the Conservatives have been “pouring fuel on the fire”.
During a speech in Warwick on Sunday, he will accuse Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps of really wanting the strikes to go on, saying, “They want the country to stop so they can feed off the division.”
“Instead of spending their time this week around the negotiating table, they are designing attack ads.”
A Transport Department spokesman said the government had pledged £ 16bn to keep the railways running throughout the pandemic.
Do you plan to close all the station lockers?
They added: “The railway is still vital, with a 25% lower number of passengers and anything that strays even further runs the risk of killing services and jobs.
“Train travel for millions more is now an option, not a necessity. Strikes prevent our customers from choosing the railway and may never return.”
Other news that will surely upset the unions is the Sunday Times’ claims that the railway network is about to close all English station ticket offices.
According to the document, plans have been drawn up to eliminate paper tickets, with the aim of saving up to £ 500 million a year.