RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The government is once again not allowing the Rail Delivery Group to make an improved offer that we can consider.
‘Therefore, we have to pursue our industrial campaign to win a negotiated settlement on jobs, pay and conditions. Ministers cannot just wish this dispute away. ‘They underestimate the strength of feeling our members who have just given us a new six-month strike mandate, continue to support the campaign and the action and are determined to see this through until we get an acceptable resolution.
‘The government now needs to unlock the RDG and allow them to make an offer that can be put to a referendum of our members.’