The Guardian – Anger as ministers refuse to join last-ditch effort to halt rail strikes

The Guardian – Anger as ministers refuse to join last-ditch effort to halt rail strikes 

The government is facing growing anger over its refusal to join last-ditch talks to avert this week’s rail strikes, reports The Guardian, with millions of people facing a week of cancelled trains and union leaders saying industrial action could spread.

With 40,000 rail workers due to join three daylong walkouts this week, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, insisted it was not the government’s job to negotiate with the unions over pay, conditions, job cuts and safety.