Proactive Investors - Hopes that there might be an end to the prolonged run of train strikes rose today as a government spokesman said a deal might be in sight.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) met with both the main rail unions again on Friday and a spokesman for PM Rishi Sunak said that the mood had been more positive than previously.
“We hope and expect further progress in the coming days,” he said.
“What we want to see as an end to the disruption that people are facing on the railways.”
According to the Telegraph, a pay offer of a 9% pay rise split across two years has been made by the RDG, while an insistence that train guards are axed might be dropped.
Today’s statement follows encouraging comments at a meeting earlier in the week.
"We have had detailed discussions and we are working jointly towards a revised offer,” said the Rail Delivery Group on Thursday.
“Both parties have agreed to continue discussions over the next few days," it added.
Train drivers across the UK have walked out on 11 days since early December, intensifying the long-standing dispute that saw 14 strike days between February and November last year.
New legislation, published on Tuesday, sees unions face having to ensure minimum service requirements are met on strike days though, a suggestion which has been met with fierce backlash.
“This law could make effective strike action illegal, and workers may be sacked for exercising their right to withdraw their labour,” suggested RMT boss Mick Lynch, dubbing it “draconian legislation”.
Elsewhere, there seems less hope of an end to the NHS dispute with nurses and ambulance staff, while strikes were today confirmed by civil servants and university staff after talks over pay stalled.