Challenges for Harper as he prepares to take on the RMT

Lars Patrick Berg | 10th November 2022 | Comment

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New Transport Minister Mark Harper faces a daunting inbox of challenges as he settles into his new role

New Transport Minister Mark Harper faces a daunting inbox of challenges as he settles into his new role: getting to grips with a sector that is so vital yet generates a quarter of our GHG emissions, and managing ageing and decrepit transport infrastructure as well as massive new projects such as HS2. Probably of most urgency will be to get a grip on the Railway & Transport Union (RMT) and resolve the rail strikes that have caused such misery to commuters this summer and are set to continue. Transport Ministers, and there have been a few recently, have either refused to engage with the RMT or had little time to make any progress. Harper said on Good Morning Britain that he was “very happy” to meet with the Unions which he said would be “helpful”. Whilst we wish him every success, as RMT once again holds the country to ransom, he's going to need stand firm - their recent behaviour highlights the organisation’s difficult internal politics and skewed interests. RMT Union Leaders ar...

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