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Ministers waste chance to avert further strikes
Unions accuse Tories of insulting its members during crisis talks by focusing on productivity over pay
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union leaves the Department of Transport in Westminster, London, following a meeting between members of the rail unions and Minister of State for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman- Picture date: Monday January 9, 2023.

UNIONS dismissed today’s crisis talks with Tory ministers on how to resolve national strikes over pay and jobs as a “missed opportunity and bitterly disappointing.”

A government source told the BBC that the Whitehall discussions with NHS, rail and teaching unions had been “useful and constructive.”

But Unite accused ministers of “insulting” its members by focusing on productivity over pay and GMB warned that the lack of any movement on real-terms wage cuts would see walkouts by ambulance staff go ahead on Wednesday as planned.

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