The SNP has urged the UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, to stop acting like “a Tory cheerleader” and back negotiations with rail workers.
It comes ahead of a week of potential rail disruption, with Unions pressing ahead with walkouts over pay, conditions, and job losses.
The SNP’s Transport spokesperson at Westminster, Gavin Newlands MP, has described the actions taken by the UK government as a “new Tory culture war” which aims to undermine unions, rather than resolve the current disputes, with no care for the consequences for rail workers, passengers, businesses and communities.
Commenting, the SNP’s Transport spokesperson, Gavin Newlands MP, said:
“Whether its tube strikes in Labour-run London, or RMT strikes across Network Rail, it is imperative that these strikes aren’t used as a political football to attack workers who are only trying to get a better deal for themselves during a Tory-made cost of living crisis.
“Sadly though, that is exactly what the UK government are trying to do – with Grant Shapps being nothing more than a Tory cheerleader to this new Tory culture war.
“Their actions are designed to undermine unions, while doing nothing to resolve the disputes.
“It is unacceptable that Network Rail employees have had no pay rise for two years and are under threat of compulsory redundancies.
“The Tories seem determined to out-Thatcher Thatcher in their approach to industrial relations.
“While they wage their culture war, Scotland and the rest of the UK will be brought to a standstill.
“The Transport Secretary must stop shouting from the sidelines and encourage negotiations to resolve these disputes before mass disruption affects us all.”
