A
renewed
war
of
words
has
broken
out
between
the
RMT
and
railway
managers


after
the
union
said
that
promised
proposals
to
end
the
six-month
dispute
had
not
been
forthcoming,
‘without
any
credible
explanation’.

The
new
clash
could
now
be
followed
by
further
strikes.

The
union
added
that
Network
Rail
has
also
‘refused
to
make
any
proposals
promised
at
the
conclusion
of
intensive
talks
last
week’.

It
had
suspended
strikes
on
the
understanding
that
new
proposals
would
be
made
by
17
November.

The
RMT’s
National
Executive
Committee
is
meeting 
this
morning,
and
the
union
said
it
was
‘highly
likely’
that
more
industrial
action
would
be
the
result.
Members
voted
last
week
to
permit
more
strikes
and
other
action
for
up
to
another
six
months.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘After
a
fortnight
of
talks,
the
TOCs
had
committed
to
making
a
firm
offer
in
writing
for
the
first
time
today.
They
cancelled
the
meeting
at
an
hour’s
notice,
and
we
can
sense
the
hand
of
the
Tory
government
in
this
as
we
believe
that
they
are
not
allowing
an
offer
to
be
made.

‘This
is
on
top
of
Network
Rail
failing
to
make
a
new
proposal
at
the
end
of
last
week.
Our
members
have
shown
their
commitment
to
the
dispute
and
to
winning
workplace
justice
in
the
re-ballot
results
last
week
and
their
union
is
equally
determined
to
see
this
dispute
through
until
we
get
a
deal
our
members
can
support.

‘Our
National
Executive
Committee
will
be
meeting
to
consider
this.
We
have
been
patient
and
have
shown
good
faith
which
has
not
been
returned.
Therefore,
I
will
be
recommending
that
we
set
out
further
phases
of
sustained
industrial
action
in
support
of
our
members.

‘While
we
will
remain
available
for
meaningful
negotiations
it
is
now
obvious
that
the
other
side
is
unwilling
or
unable
to
progress
matters
appropriately,
so
our
action
will
be
reinstated.’

The
Rail
Delivery
Group
did
not
comment
directly
about
alleged
promises,
but
said:
‘We
have
made
real
progress
over
the
last
fortnight
and
for
the
first
time
in
months
we
can
see
the
outline
of
a
credible
deal.

‘Any
strikes
will
only
cause
further
misery
for
customers
and
struggling
businesses
in
the
run
up
to
Christmas
and
beyond.
The
RMT
leadership
should
now
remove
any
uncertainty
around
Christmas
and
commit
to
protecting
everyone’s
first
festive
period
post
Covid
from
any
strike
disruption.’