BORIS THREATENS TOUGH NEW CURBS ON STRIKES

Rail unions warned to back off in summer train chaos row

MILITANT rail unions threatening a summer of train strikes were yesterday warned: back off or face tough new laws to curb future action.

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

But they warned that if the unions went ahead, the Government would bring in tough new laws.

That would mean outlawing any strike that did not provide a guaranteed ‘minimum service’ to limit disruption to passengers.

It could also mean union leaders being liable for damages if they failed to honour such an agreement.

A Government source admitted the new law could not be rushed through in time for this summer’s feared strikes.

But it would apply to any future industrial action.

The source said: ‘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.’

The threat comes amid fears rail unions will this summer stage the biggest rail strike in modern history – starting as early as next month. One rail union boss has warned it would be the biggest industrial action since the 1926 General Strike.

There are already concerns that fans could struggle to get to nearly 30 big sporting events and festivals, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Scotland and England Uefa matches and Wimbledon.

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

But the 40,000-strong Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ union (RMT), which this Wednesday is expected to reveal the result of a UK-wide ballot on strike action, claims its members have had pay freezes and job threats.

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

Also, in Scotland, the train drivers’ union Aslef is to ballot for industrial action.

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

TSSA 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 postponed the plans because of the Covid pandemic.

In a proposed Bill, the Government said rail operators and unions would be obliged to sign up to the minimum service guarantee during walk-outs.

Any strike would be unlawful without a minimum service agreement.

And if an agreement was not honoured, the strike would also be declared unlawful, with the unions liable to injunctions or damages.

A Government source said: ‘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 it was first outlined in 2019, then RMT boss Mick Cash branded it ‘a draconian measure which amounts to an attempt to ban transport workers from going on strike.

‘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.’

However, Tory 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 will see this is absolutely necessary.’

A Department for Transport spokesman warned that changes to the railway network are necessary. He said: ‘The pandemic has changed the railway for good with passenger numbers plummeting. Unless we action significant change soon, we risk losing it for good.’

‘Trying to hold the nation to ransom is draconian’