‘I’m not the Grinch’: Mick Lynch defends Christmas rail strikes as talks called

The Guardian
23 November 2023 (UK)

Work and pensions secretary lashes out at striking rail workers, saying they are putting family reunions at risk

The UK transport secretary, Mark Harper, will meet the union leader Mick Lynch thi  s week for the first time for urgent talks to try to call off rail strikes over the festive period.

The RMT general secretary defended the industrial action after critical newspaper reports painted him as “the Grinch who stole Christmas”. Lynch said: “I’m not the Grinch. I’m a trade union official, and I’m determined to get a deal.”

His assistant general secretary, John Leach, said he hoped Harper “puts his shoulder behind the wheel and gets a deal moving” when he meets Lynch on Thursday, but warned that if a settlement isn’t reached then passengers will face “more and more disruption”.

Meanwhile, the work and pensions secretary, Mel Stride, told Sky News on Wednesday that legislation could be pushed forward “in due course” to ensure a minimum service for passengers. He condemned striking workers for putting festive family reunions at risk.

Source
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/23/ministers-talks-rail-union-leaders-christmas-strikes