THE government should offer workers an acceptable settlement within 48 hours to avoid strikes, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said yesterday, amid rising tensions with Westminster over planned rail walkouts.
Mr Lynch said the union has no choice but to act to address the threat to jobs, terms and working conditions, which are “being shredded.”
He also called for a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hit back yesterday, warning the rail union that next week’s strikes would be a “huge act of self-harm” that could endanger the future of the rail industry.
He said the union is “punishing” millions of people who will feel the impact of the strikes.
The spat comes as the TUC is today calling on government ministers to stop “inflaming tensions” and help to end the dispute.
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Sharon Graham addresses the Unite policy conference after talks over the Birmingham bin strikes break down


