Network Rail RMT members vote to accept pay deal

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Signal workers and maintenance staff in the RMT union have voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer from Network Rail. They will no longer not take part in any further strikes in the Union’s long-running dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The new deal comes after Network Rail amended its previously rejected offer of a 5% pay rise for 2022 and a 4% increase in 2023. Turnout for the latest vote was nearly 90%, with 76% of members voting in favour of the pay offer. The

RMT members who work for 14 train operating companies are still due to walk out on 30 March and 1 April, but the Network Rail result will be seen as a significant breakthrough.

While the dispute with Network Rail is now over, members at train operating companies will continue to strike unless, according to RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, they received the “right offer”.

Reacting to the news, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “I am pleased Network Rail’s RMT members have voted to accept a fair and reasonable 5% plus 4% pay offer, over two years, that the Government worked hard to facilitate.

“While this is good news, unfortunately, RMT members who work for train operating companies are not being given the same chance to bring their dispute to an end. That’s because the RMT has refused to put the Rail Delivery Group’s very similar offer to a vote, denying these members the pay rise they deserve.

“That’s why I am once again urging the RMT to call off their upcoming strikes across train operating companies, put the Rail Delivery Group offer to a vote, and give all of their members a say.”

Image credit: iStockphoto.com

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