A local MP has called on councils to look at ‘relaxing’ driving and parking rules in response to the rail strikes set to go ahead this week. 

The biggest strikes in 30 years are planned to start this evening when the first of three walk-outs by RMT union members will begin over pay and job losses. 

Wokingham MP John Redwood wants the council to act as more people will be required to travel to work via car. 

“In a week of rail strikes will Councils help us get around by relaxing some of their penal rules on driving and parking?” he said.  

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“Too many Councils create congestion, reduce road capacity, and see parking as a way of grabbing large revenues.” 

The Wokingham Borough Council leader, Councillor Clive Jones, called the idea “interesting” but added it would “be far better to sit down with the trade unions and sort out the issues” to avoid the strikes happening.  

Cllr Jones said: “They are no good for anybody. I don’t think Grant Shapps is making much effort because it suits the Conservatives to have a bit of a show down with trade unions. 

“It’s a slightly different Conservative tactic, usually they are trying to go back to the 1880’s not the 1980’s. 

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“The problem is, we don’t have money. This council has very significant budget pressures.  

“Although the Conservatives […] said they were leaving a sparkling Rolls Royce for the council, they are not. The finances are not in a good place.” 

Union leaders have accused the government of “inflaming tensions” after transport secretary Grant Shapps called the RMT’s request for a meeting as a “stunt” and the strikes an “act of self-harm.” 

Mr Shapps has said that the median salary for the rail sector “is £44,000, which is significantly above the median salary in the country.” 

However, this calculation includes train drivers’ salaries – on average £59,000 – who are part of a different union and will not be taking part in this week’s strikes.  

The RMT say that if you take the £44,000 figure, exclude the drivers and include cleaning staff – who RMT claim have 10,000 union members – you get a median figure of £33,000. 

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Mr Redwood wants to hear more from railway management regarding what they are offering to disgruntled rail staff and what they want by way of “changed services and work practices.”  

“We only seem to hear Union resistance to everything and their wish for a general strike,” he added. 

Talks between rail companies and union leaders that took place today in a last-ditch attempt to reconcile and prevent the strikes taking place have failed. 

The RMT’s General Secretary Mick Lynch says the union is now “moving onto the next phase of the campaign.”