The Transport Secretary has said that Rail, Maritime and Transport workers will not be given an improved pay offer. It comes amid an ongoing dispute which has seen workers strike over pay, jobs and conditions.
Mark Harper made his comments during a visit to a business neat his Forest of Dean constituency. He said there is “not a bottomless pit” of money available to railway workers.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, has offered union workers a minimum pay rise of 9% over two years. It said this was the "best and final offer".
Mr Harper was asked if rejecting the offer would be "the end". He told the BBC: “It is. I’ve made it very clear there is not a bottomless pit of taxpayers’ money.
“I think they’ve got a very fair offer and it’s comparable to what you’ve got in the private sector, and I hope members of the union get the opportunity to set out their views on it.”
Speaking to PA news agency he said he had "tried to change the tone" of the debate since becoming Transport Secretary. He said: “I’ve made sure and helped facilitate some fair and reasonable pay offers.
“And I very much hope that those pay offers now get the opportunity to be put in front of the members of those unions, to accept them to help get the railways working more effectively for passengers.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said on Thursday the union’s executive will consider the offer and decide its next steps “in due course”. Talks continued this week in a bid to resolve the dispute between the RMT and Network Rail.
