Wage increases that correspond to the rising cost of living are not possible, the new transport minister told the striking railway workers
Mark Harper said he “fully understands” why unions want inflation-linked wage increases but said “economic circumstances” prevented this.
It came as he agreed to help unions reach a deal with railway companies ahead of new strikes at Christmas.
RMT union boss Mick Lynch called their meeting “positive”.
Mr Harper’s two predecessors had refused to get involved in the dispute, although the minister said it was not his job to conduct the “detailed negotiations”.
“I accept that I have a role in this process, which is to try to encourage the two sides to come to an agreement and to ensure that there is a free flow of information and that the process moves forward as quickly as possible,” he told the BBC.
Passengers have been told to expect major disruption after the RMT said it would stage four 48-hour strikes over the next month.
Around 40,000 employees will be on 13.-14. and 16-17 December and on 3.-4. and 6th-7th January, whereby delays and cancellations are also to be expected on the strike days.
The strikes are expected to hit people traveling for Christmas and the pub industry is warning it could ruin their busiest week of the year.
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