Dispute over train strikes 'will be indefinite' if Tories refuse to back down, says Mick Lynch

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has warned the union will 'go down' on the issue of driver-only trains as he accuses the Tories of 'trying to make organized workers the 'enemy of this country'

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When will the rail strikes take place and what impact will they have?

The rail strike dispute will be 'indefinite' unless the government stops 'blocking' a deal, Mick Lynch has warned tonight.

The RMT General Secretary also accused the Conservatives of trying to portray organized workers as “the enemy of this country”.

It comes as the country braces for a new wave of rail strikes ahead of Christmas, with widespread disruption from next week.

Hopes of a deal collapsed on Sunday after an offer from the Rail Delivery Group for an 8% pay rise over two years was rejected.

The RMT boss has accused ministers of bringing the contentious issue of driver-only trains into negotiations on Sunday - destroying any chance of a deal.

Speaking last night at the RMT offices in London, Mr Lynch said the union would 'engage on this issue' and not accept conductor-only trains 'in any form' .

When asked if the conflict could continue indefinitely unless the government backs down, he replied, "It will be indefinite if that is their position."

"I can't change that. The only people who change that are the national [RMT] executive.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has warned that the union will "go down" on the issue of driver-only trains (

Picture:

Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

"But they are bound by a decision of our annual general meeting which is union policy: we will not accept driver-only operation."

He added: "In my opinion, they do it deliberately because they want the industrial action.

"They want this image to go over Christmas that organized workers are somehow the enemy of this country"

On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Mark Harper repeatedly dodged questions about whether the issue had been pushed into negotiations at the last hour by ministers.

Speaking before the Treasury Committee, he said: 'Nobody is trying to stop a deal, quite the contrary.

“We are trying to reach an agreement here, it was the RMT who rejected it, and I think that is unfortunate. I am very clear that I want an agreement to be reached.”