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PM threatens tough new curbs on strikes

As rail unions plot summer walkouts, Ministers plan to hit ringleaders with damages

By Brendan Carlin POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

MILITANT rail unions threatening a summer of walkouts were warned today: Back off or face tough new laws to curb strikes.

Ministers urged union bosses to ‘be reasonable’ and spare the nation from rail strike chaos.

But they insisted that if the unions went ahead, the Government would bring in legislation to prevent any repeat of a national rail shutdown. That would mean outlawing any strikes that did not provide a guaranteed ‘minimum service’ to limit disruption to passengers. It could also make union leaders liable for damages if they failed to honour such a requirement. Last night, a Government source admitted that a law could not be rushed through in time for any strikes this summer, but it would apply for any future industrial action. The source also pointed out that the Government had put £16billion of taxpayers’ cash into the rail industry during the pandemic as passenger numbers plummeted.

The insider added: ‘We’d rather have sensible discussions, and we want the unions to be reasonable.

‘But unjustified, wide-scale rail strikes would make legislation inevitable to protect the public and supply chains.’

It comes amid fears that rail unions will stage the biggest rail strike in modern history this summer– starting as early as next month.

One rail union boss has even warned it would be the biggest industrial action since the 1926 General Strike.

There are already concerns that people could struggle to get to nearly 30 major sporting events and festivals, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, two England matches in the Uefa Nations League and Wimbledon.

Rail bosses are drawing up contingency plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked by giving freight services priority, and Boris Johnson is expected to discuss the threat with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this week.

But the 40,000-strong Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT), which is expected to reveal

‘Held to ransom through inappropriate strike action’

the result of a ballot on strike action on Wednesday, claims its members have been subject to pay freezes and job threats.

The union says plans to cut 2,500 maintenance jobs to save £2.5billion over the next two years could make accidents more likely – a claim denied by Network Rail.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has admitted: ‘A national rail strike will bring the country to a standstill.’

However, he added: ‘Our members’ livelihoods and passenger safety are our priorities.’

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), which represents Network Rail control room and maintenance workers, is also consulting its members on strike action.

General secretary Manuel Cortes has warned: ‘The disruption will be unparalleled.’

Ministers originally outlined plans to curb a national rail strike in 2019 after Mr Johnson’s landslide election victory, but put them on hold because of the Covid pandemic.

In a proposed Bill then, the Government said it would ensure minimum service levels were maintained during rail strikes. Both rail operators and unions would be obliged to sign up to a service guarantee that would apply during walkouts.

Any strike without a minimum service agreement would be unlawful. If a service agreement was not honoured,

a strike would be declared unlawful, with the unions potentially subject to injunctions or damages.

A Government source said last night: ‘I think everyone will understand why, during the Covid pandemic, this was not a priority.

‘But if the unions persist in jumping the gun and going now for unjustified

strike action, it will become a priority and we will deliver it.’

When the idea was first outlined in 2019, then RMT leader Mick Cash branded it ‘a draconian measure which amounts to an attempt to ban transport workers from going on strike’.

He added: ‘Taking industrial

action is a basic human right, and denying workers the ability to withdraw their labour has been the hallmark of hard-Right, authoritarian regimes.’

But Conservative MP Tom Hunt said last night: ‘What’s draconian is trying to hold the nation to ransom through entirely unreasonable and

inappropriate strike action. I am sure that rail passengers and the general public will see this is absolutely necessary.’

The Department for Transport has previously stressed it wanted a ‘fair deal for staff, passengers and taxpayers’.

It warned that unless major changes were made to the railways following the pandemic, ‘we risk

losing it for good’. A spokesman added: ‘We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a worldleading rail network.

‘Our Plan for Rail and massive infrastructure projects, including HS2 and the Integrated Rail Plan, are creating positive change, whilst we’re also overhauling the industry’s structure, ticketing systems and creating new green opportunities

for rail freight. However, the pandemic has changed the railway for good with passenger numbers plummeting.

‘The Government stepped in and committed £16billion of funding – nearly £600 per household to ensure its survival – but this is merely financial life support. Unless we action significant change soon, we risk losing it for good.’

Platinum Jubilee

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