A lot of trade unions have lost confidence now in the DTI - we see it as a sort of extension of the CBI

Bill Morris TGWU leader

Train strikes this week blighted the journeys of thousands of commuters and 150,000 postal workers are being balloted on industrial action.

But suggestions that the UK is seeing a repeat of the "winter of discontent" seen at the end of the 1970s were rejected by Mr Morris, the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU).

Instead, the figures for the last month showed industrial disputes were down by half on 1999, said Mr Morris.

His comments come as the threat looms of strikes by workers at Arriva Trains Northern and further action by staff at South West Trains.

The DTI denies Morris's claim it favours employers over workers

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The current dispute in the rail industry is of course regrettable.

"One hopes there is a quick and lasting solution and that takes both sides.

"But it also takes the side of the relevant departments, like the Department of Trade and Industry to foster good industrial relations and build a critical bridge. I see no sign of that at the moment."

Mr Morris said he did not want the DTI to intervene in the negotiations but he praised the new idea to prevent further rail disputes offered by Mick Rix, leader of train drivers' union Aslef.

Lost confidence

Mr Rix has suggested a return to national pay bargaining because of the difficulties caused by the fragmentation of the rail industry into various private companies.

Backing the proposal, Mr Morris said the DTI could have a role in such a scheme but faced problems because it had compromised its impartiality and was seen too much as the voice of business.

"A lot of trade unions have lost confidence now in the DTI. We see it as a sort of extension of the CBI so we have got to get back to some fundamentals here."

A spokesman for the DTI told BBC News Online: "The DTI works with people from all parts of industry, including both employees and employers' representatives.

"The government has repeatedly shown its commitment to social partnership by investing millions in encouraging improved relationships in the workplace and has involved both the TUC and the CBI."