That’s it from me, Tom Ambrose, and indeed from the rail strikes blog for today. Thanks for following along throughout the day.
The rail strikes aren’t having the impact that unions “might have hoped” for, according to the Department for Transport.
In a statement issued tonight, a spokesperson said:
These are desperately needed reforms that modernise the railway and put it on a sustainable footing for passengers and taxpayers.
Unions have shut down big parts of the rail network, hitting local businesses and unfairly cutting people off from hospitals, schools and work.
However, early data shows that unlike in the past many people now have the opportunity to work from home, so we haven’t even had a rush to the roads, as traffic has instead gone online, which means the unions aren’t having the overall impact they might have hoped.
It follows comments earlier today from the RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch. He said:
Today’s turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise.
Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute. RMT members are leading the way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy
Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win.
Updated
