Shapps calls out train driver greed amid further strikes impacting South Yorkshire passengers

PASSENGERS across South Yorkshire are set to be hit by further rail strikes this week.

Workers from the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and Unite will strike over a dispute in pay on Thursday and Saturday, with services either limited or not running.

Unions have criticised transport secretary Grant Shapps for his “lack of interest” to sit with members and negotiate a settlement and his comments referring to train driver “greed”.

Back in July, Mr Shapps said: “The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) was offered a pay deal worth up to eight per cent over two years. 

“Today their leadership rejected it without even putting it to their members and instead called another strike.

“RMT bosses aren’t interested in finding a solution, they just want to cause misery to the travelling public.”

However, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said there could be more strikes within the next coming weeks and months because Mr Shapps is issuing “idle threats” against railway workers in a bid to save his political career.

“Instead of sitting down with RMT and the rail industry to find a negotiated settlement to this dispute, Mr Shapps has politically interfered to prevent a deal,” he added.

“Now he is threatening our members with P&O-style fire and rehire and the reintroduction of ‘driver only operated’ services, which will lead to a fall in safety standards and job losses.

“If Mr Shapps proceeds on this course, RMT will use the industrial mandate it has from its 40,000 members in this dispute to take more strike action in the coming weeks and months.

“There will be the biggest resistance mounted by the entire trade union movement, rivalling the general strike of 1926, the Suffragettes and Chartism.”

Travel South Yorkshire issued advice for passengers to plan ahead during the strikes.