to block an offer from the train operating companies. but interesting operating companies. but interesting this operating companies. but interesting this morning the transport secretary indicating that is absolutely not true. is absolutely not true. well, the financial times is absolutely not true. well, the financial times reported - is absolutely not true. well, the financial times reported last i is absolutely not true. well, the i financial times reported last week that they had heard that from three different sources in the industry, and it is clear that the government holds the purse strings of this dispute and that if there is going to be a settlement, there needs to be a will from the government to negotiate seriously in this dispute. conrad landon, thank you. of conrad landon, thank you. of course it is notjust the chains that will be affected by strikes this week. trains. the first nationwide strike by nurses in england, wales and northern ireland looks set to go ah
they said they were prepared to negotiate on those things and not impose cuts to terms and conditions, not impose redundancies at this point, when so many people are worried about their ability to pay their mortgages, to pay their rent, to be able to afford christmas presents for their children, i think that could take some of the heat out of this dispute, and help towards getting a negotiated settlement. so you are saying it is notjust about the money, it is much more nuanced than that? ~ , than that? absolutely. the uk government than that? absolutely. the uk government seems than that? absolutely. the uk government seems to - than that? absolutely. the uk government seems to have i than that? absolutely. the uk i government seems to have been gunning for these strikes, and they serve as a distraction from the cost of living crisis that the uk government has made and is failing to address, and they know that if they can break the railway workers in one of the most collectivised,
festive cheer is in good supply. but, for people hoping to get here by train, more travel misery is in store. local hotels worry strikes have put some visitors off. they ve had individual bookings cancelled, conferences, meetings cancelled. this happening just in the week before christmas, this obviously is going to hurt because everybody is trying to bolster their bank balance in order to deal with the first quarter of next year. on strike days this week that s today, tomorrow, friday and saturday only about 20% of britain s usual train services will run. and trains will start later and finish much earlier than they normally do. there will also be some knock on disruption on thursday and sunday mornings. rail workers in the rmt have already walked out on eight days this year in a dispute the union says is over pay, protectingjobs and working conditions.