Rishi Sunak has invited striking union leaders for “grown-up, honest” talks on Monday as the Government seeks to end the wave of industrial action.
Pressed on whether the talks could include discussions on be this year’s pay during a visit to a school in Battersea, West London today, Mr Sunak said: “What we’ve said is we want to have a grown-up, honest conversation with all union leaders about what is responsible, what is reasonable and what is affordable for our country when it comes to pay.
“We think those conversations should happen. That’s why we’ve invited everyone in to have those talks on Monday and I’m hopeful that those talks can be constructive and we can find a way through this.”
The PM said: “Yesterday the Government wrote to all union leaders inviting them in for talks on Monday.”
Asked whether the Government could meet the demands of the nursing union “halfway” after it suggested a 10 percent pay increase rather than almost double, he added: “We have always been clear that we want to have a grown-up, honest conversation, a two way conversation with union leaders.”
The deadlock between striking unions and the Government has escalated after the Government proposed new anti-strike legislation under which employers would be able to sack workers and sue unions who take industrial action.
Mr Sunak didn’t rule out people losing their jobs for not going to work during strike action under the proposed new legislation.
By Chris Samuel@csamueljourno
