Transport Secretary has described the move as a 'bribe'
An email from union boss Mike Cash reveals he has offered every member £200 as a “hardship fund” to continue to striking this month, according to reports.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has described the move as a “bribe”.
He added: “This is a bung to keep members on board for a needless strike that’s all about militant politics and not about passengers”.
Whitehall sources claimed the cash was “a sign of desperation”.
But Mr Cash defended the move, saying: “It is perfectly normal practice for trade unions to make hardship payments to members who have been involved in long-running industrial action.
“This money comes from our member's wages.”
Five franchises are embroiled in the dispute, including Northern, Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and South Western.
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Mr Grayling said it was the “unnecessary” actions of trade unions that was behind the disruption on busy London commuter lines operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
Travellers on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise have suffered the worst disruption on the network since services began in September 2014, according to the National Audit Office.
BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Carrie Gracie raised the point the Government was to blame after the auditors found policy decisions have had a negative impact on millions of passengers.
This prompted a fiery response from Mr Grayling, who blasted: “I’m afraid it was the industrial action, it was the unnecessary action of trade unions, militant trade unions that caused the vast majority of disruption for passengers which was awful, I know.”
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But, despite the 'bung' many members are ignoring the call to action
Gracie suggested the Transport Secretary could be “passing the buck” for severe delays and disruption on the busy commuter route.
Mr Grayling continued: “We’re not paying the buck, we’re up against a set of militant trade unions…”
Not content with the Conservative Cabinet member’s answer, the BBC host asked Mr Grayling to apologise on behalf of the Government.
She said: “I still haven’t heard the word ‘sorry’, I mean the National Audit Office makes specific criticisms of your department.”
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The RMT is also offering strike pay of up to £60 a day to all members who walk out
Mr Grayling eventually said he was “extremely sorry” for the “difficult time” experienced by Southern passengers.
He added: “Most passengers on that network today will say over the past year things have got much better and so does the National Audit Office (NAO) and that’s because we worked very hard to sort out the operational problems but also because we’ve overcome most but not all of the industrial problems.”
Under pressure from Gracie, Mr Grayling acknowledged his department’s failings but insisted the rail misery was “predominantly” down to industrial action.
Transport Secretary has described the move as a 'bribe'
An email from union boss Mike Cash reveals he has offered every member £200 as a “hardship fund” to continue to striking this month, according to reports.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has described the move as a “bribe”.
He added: “This is a bung to keep members on board for a needless strike that’s all about militant politics and not about passengers”.
Whitehall sources claimed the cash was “a sign of desperation”.
But Mr Cash defended the move, saying: “It is perfectly normal practice for trade unions to make hardship payments to members who have been involved in long-running industrial action.
“This money comes from our member's wages.”
Five franchises are embroiled in the dispute, including Northern, Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and South Western.
The best commuter towns to London
Mon, March 20, 2017
Top 10 commuter towns to London - TotallyMoney.com have ranked the best commuter towns, taking house prices, cost of commute, commute time and overall life satisfaction into consideration.
Mr Grayling said it was the “unnecessary” actions of trade unions that was behind the disruption on busy London commuter lines operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
Travellers on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise have suffered the worst disruption on the network since services began in September 2014, according to the National Audit Office.
BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Carrie Gracie raised the point the Government was to blame after the auditors found policy decisions have had a negative impact on millions of passengers.
This prompted a fiery response from Mr Grayling, who blasted: “I’m afraid it was the industrial action, it was the unnecessary action of trade unions, militant trade unions that caused the vast majority of disruption for passengers which was awful, I know.”
GETTY
But, despite the 'bung' many members are ignoring the call to action
Gracie suggested the Transport Secretary could be “passing the buck” for severe delays and disruption on the busy commuter route.
Mr Grayling continued: “We’re not paying the buck, we’re up against a set of militant trade unions…”
Not content with the Conservative Cabinet member’s answer, the BBC host asked Mr Grayling to apologise on behalf of the Government.
She said: “I still haven’t heard the word ‘sorry’, I mean the National Audit Office makes specific criticisms of your department.”
GETTY
The RMT is also offering strike pay of up to £60 a day to all members who walk out
Mr Grayling eventually said he was “extremely sorry” for the “difficult time” experienced by Southern passengers.
He added: “Most passengers on that network today will say over the past year things have got much better and so does the National Audit Office (NAO) and that’s because we worked very hard to sort out the operational problems but also because we’ve overcome most but not all of the industrial problems.”
Under pressure from Gracie, Mr Grayling acknowledged his department’s failings but insisted the rail misery was “predominantly” down to industrial action.
Transport Secretary has described the move as a 'bribe'
An email from union boss Mike Cash reveals he has offered every member £200 as a “hardship fund” to continue to striking this month, according to reports.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has described the move as a “bribe”.
He added: “This is a bung to keep members on board for a needless strike that’s all about militant politics and not about passengers”.
Whitehall sources claimed the cash was “a sign of desperation”.
But Mr Cash defended the move, saying: “It is perfectly normal practice for trade unions to make hardship payments to members who have been involved in long-running industrial action.
“This money comes from our member's wages.”
Five franchises are embroiled in the dispute, including Northern, Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and South Western.
The best commuter towns to London
Mon, March 20, 2017
Top 10 commuter towns to London - TotallyMoney.com have ranked the best commuter towns, taking house prices, cost of commute, commute time and overall life satisfaction into consideration.
Mr Grayling said it was the “unnecessary” actions of trade unions that was behind the disruption on busy London commuter lines operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
Travellers on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise have suffered the worst disruption on the network since services began in September 2014, according to the National Audit Office.
BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Carrie Gracie raised the point the Government was to blame after the auditors found policy decisions have had a negative impact on millions of passengers.
This prompted a fiery response from Mr Grayling, who blasted: “I’m afraid it was the industrial action, it was the unnecessary action of trade unions, militant trade unions that caused the vast majority of disruption for passengers which was awful, I know.”
GETTY
But, despite the 'bung' many members are ignoring the call to action
Gracie suggested the Transport Secretary could be “passing the buck” for severe delays and disruption on the busy commuter route.
Mr Grayling continued: “We’re not paying the buck, we’re up against a set of militant trade unions…”
Not content with the Conservative Cabinet member’s answer, the BBC host asked Mr Grayling to apologise on behalf of the Government.
She said: “I still haven’t heard the word ‘sorry’, I mean the National Audit Office makes specific criticisms of your department.”
GETTY
The RMT is also offering strike pay of up to £60 a day to all members who walk out
Mr Grayling eventually said he was “extremely sorry” for the “difficult time” experienced by Southern passengers.
He added: “Most passengers on that network today will say over the past year things have got much better and so does the National Audit Office (NAO) and that’s because we worked very hard to sort out the operational problems but also because we’ve overcome most but not all of the industrial problems.”
Under pressure from Gracie, Mr Grayling acknowledged his department’s failings but insisted the rail misery was “predominantly” down to industrial action.
GETTY
GETTY
GETTY