The Rail, Maritime and Transport union accused ministers of “abdicating their responsibility” to sort out the industrial unrest.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has claimed the Government is blocking rail employers from making a deal. Since meeting a minister last week there have been no further scheduled negotiations to try to prevent upcoming strikes on Network Rail, said the RMT. It pointed out that it has agreed deals in every part of the railway network where the Department for Transport is not involved.
Pay offers from Network Rail and the train operating companies are “well below” what has been agreed in Scotland, Wales and where metro mayors have control of the rail franchise, the RMT said.