'The whole country is suffering, and we've got a trade union prepared to fight for what we've got' says RMT General Sec Mick Lynch - adding there's 'full employment and falling wages' and that 'cannot be tolerated by working people'. 📺 Sky 501
"We've had tremendous support" from around the world, the RMT has said in a news conference, but adds their campaign will now move on to the next phase.
He says benefits have been"diluted" and safety inspections are being cut by 50% - equivalent to 3,000 staff. "We remain available for discussions during the action and after the action and between the strike dates if the companies want to engage with us."Conservative MP Huw Merriman, who chairs the Transport Select Committee, says the reported changes to the law that would allow companies to bring in agency staff during strikes is not a solution.
Business minister Paul Scully has written to Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, asking him to waive the capital's ultra-low emission zone charge during the strike days so people forced to turn to their cars don't lose out. He said we are now"beyond the point of no return for what passengers can expect from the railway in terms of services for tomorrow". Trains will only start from 7.30am tomorrow and will stop running by 6.30pm, Mr Groves added. "There's still a sliver of hope we can find a way through and find a solution that works for everyone but I have to say that sliver of hope as the day progresses is getting ever smaller," he said.
"They do not get a bad deal. We want to pay them more, but that has to be done through modernisation of the railways.""In return [for pay rises] we need to get rid of some of these Spanish practices," Mr Shapps added, giving the example of running a full railway on a Sunday. Earlier we reported on comments made by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke, who said it was important any public sector pay increases did not worsen inflation.
"He also rightly made the point about not seeking to try and match pay rises to growing inflation, which we do believe would be the wrong approach and would be counterproductive," the spokesman said. "I'm not necessarily saying it would be around pay but there are a number of factors that could stoke inflation that people need to be mindful of."Criminal barristers have become the latest group to vote for strike action as the government comes under intensifying pressure over pay demands.
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