Brandon Lewis has been criticised for referring to coach driver’s salaries whereas discussing the RMT rail strike – only a day after Boris Johnson did the identical factor.
The Northern Eire secretary appeared on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme the place he mentioned prepare drivers have been incomes between £56,000 and £70,000.
He added that the dispute – which prompted industrial motion on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – is an “problem between the employer and unions” and that folks wish to see a decision.
Nonetheless Mr Lewis’s use of the upper figures that prepare drivers earn is claimed to be deceptive as most are represented by one other union, ASLEF, whereas the RMT acts on behalf of decrease paid employees corresponding to cleaners and prepare guards.
In an interview whereas in Kigali, Rwanda, the prime minister made the same remark whereas bemoaning the strike motion and the wages of prepare drivers.
He obtained a swift riposte on-line from RMT, who mentioned on Twitter: “Can somebody please inform the person with the wallpaper product of gold that this isn’t a prepare drivers strike!”
For instance, prepare guards earn between £23,000-£36,000 whereas monitor upkeep workers obtain wages of between £16,000-£34,000.
RMT boss Mick Lynch has repeatedly made the purpose that many of the workers concerned within the pay and circumstances dispute with Community Rail and prepare operator corporations are on between £25,000 and £30,000.
Based on the ONS the median family disposable earnings within the UK in 2021 was £31,400.
After the newest stroll out on Saturday Mr Lynch didn’t rule out additional strike motion with little signal of a breakthrough in discussions between the union and rail operators.
Talking exterior Euston station at a picket line, he mentioned: “We’re not ruling out strikes however we now have not put down any dates for any strike motion.
“We’re going to overview with our nationwide government subsequent week, who’ve been all the best way around the nation this week on the picket line, so we’re all going to get collectively the management of the union and see the place we’re.
“We aren’t going to call dates instantly and we’re going to proceed working constructively with the businesses to strike a deal, however that could be a actually steep problem in the mean time due to the agenda they’ve acquired and the results they need on our members.”
