RMT boss Mick Lynch ‘holds secret talks’ with Network Rail as poll reveals unions losing support

RMT union boss Mick Lynch reportedly held secret talks with Network Rail chiefs yesterday, sparking hope that further rail strikes in the New Year could be averted.

Public support for the ongoing strikes that have crippled Britain’s railways has waned after scuppering festive plans in what is the first Christmas in three years without Covid restrictions.

Mr Lynch and his deputy Eddie Dempsey met with Network Rail bosses in a last-minute meeting yesterday morning, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It is understood the two warring sides have agreed to a fresh round of negotiations in the second week of January. 

RMT union boss Mick Lynch at the picket line at Euston railway station on December 13

Network Rail boss Andrew Haines said: ‘I am so sorry our passengers are having to bear the brunt of the RMT’s needless strike action’

But this raises questions as to how it will effect strikes planned on nearly every day in the first week of January. 

Yesterday the drivers’ union Aslef announced a strike across 15 train companies on Thursday January 5, in yet another blow for millions of rail passengers.

Meanwhile workers at the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 14 train operators are planning to strike on January 3, 4, 6 and 7, meaning services are set to be crippled in the first week of January.

There are now fears that hundreds of stations could be rendered ineffective until January 8 unless the industrial action is averted.

Platforms at King’s Cross station in London were empty during strike action by the RMT union on December 16

Two union members at the picket line in Reading during a 48-hour walkout of railway workers on December 17

An RMT overtime ban on days when walkouts are not planned, set to finish on January 2, has already caused widespread chaos on the railways this week.

Passengers have been blighted by last-minute cancellations and rail operators left to deal with ‘bottlenecks’ at depots as they scramble to get the right number of staff in place to be able to run services safely. 

The network will shutdown once again from 3pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27, as another national walkout gets under way in the bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions. 

Travellers have been urged to only travel ‘if absolutely necessary’, and to consider making Christmas getaway journeys on an earlier day if possible, with services on December 23 expected to be extremely busy. 

The latest YouGov survey found more people oppose the rail strikes than support them, by 49 per cent to 43 per cent. In September, more people backed than opposed the walkouts

RMT members will strike from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27

The meeting between the two warring sides was reportedly arranged following a series of last-minute phone calls on Tuesday morning.

Mr Lynch and Mr Dempsey are thought to have met with Network Rail lead negotiator Tim Shoveller and HR head Pauline Holroyd at the state-owned company’s offices on Eversholt Street in Camden, north London.

One insider said the two sides are discussing a ‘goldilocks deal’ in which each can declare victory, according to the Telegraph.

They added: ‘Lynch is now looking for a way to get out without losing face.’ 

But support for rail strikes is fading, a poll suggests, after the latest YouGov survey found more people oppose the rail strikes than support them, by 49 per cent to 43 per cent.

RMT deputy Eddie Dempsey (pictured) was also reportedly present at secret talks held with Network Rail

Aslef members will be assembling on picket lines on January 5 with members from 15 companies walking out. Pictured are rail workers on the picket line at Grand Central Station, Birmingham on November 28

A traveller stands underneath the departure board at Paddington station in central London on December 17 as around 40,000 RMT union members staged a 48-hour walkout

In September, more people backed than opposed the walkouts.

A majority of the public are also opposed to border guard walkouts, with 43 per cent opposing them and 40 per cent supporting.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent said ministers were to blame for the walk outs compared with 32 per cent pointing to union barons such as Mick Lynch of the RMT rail union.

A spokesman for Network Rail said yesterday: ‘Network Rail and RMT had an informal meeting today, as we often have, and discussed a wide range of industrial matters.’ 

RMT and Network Rail have been contacted for further comment.