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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Aletha Adu and Joe Middleton

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

Mick Lynch announces further industrial action after talks with the government break down.
Mick Lynch will meet with the transport secretary, Mark Harper, for urgent talks to try to call off planned rail strikes in December and January. Photograph: AP

The UK transport secretary, Mark Harper, will meet the union leader Mick Lynch this 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.”

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