Rail strikes set to end: Network Rail members of RMT vote to accept pay offer as Mick Lynch's reign of terror almost over
Members of RMT have voted for accept a pay offer
PA
Network Rail members have voted to accept a pay offer to end the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the RMT union has announced.
Members of the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) have voted to accept the offer, a nine per cent pay increase over two years following a referendum that closed on Monday.
Thousands of rail workers, including signalling staff and track maintenance workers, agreed on the deal which will see an uplift on salaries of between 14.4 per cent for the lowest paid grades to 9.2 per cent for the highest paid, increased backpay, a no compulsory redundancy agreement until January 2025 and rail travel benefits.
The Network Rail result is a significant breakthrough and will be welcomed by the industry.
Train strikes have caused chaos for travellers up and down the country
PA
In a turnout of nearly 90 per cent, members voted by 76 per cent to 24 per cent in favour with 12,047 members voting yes on the offer and 3,709 voting no.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Strike action and the inspiring solidarity and determination of members has secured new money and a new offer which has been clearly accepted by our members and that dispute is now over.
“Our dispute with the train operating companies remains firmly on and our members’ recent highly effective strike action across the 14 train companies has shown their determination to secure a better deal.
“If the Government now allows the train companies to make the right offer, we can then put that to our members, but until then the strike action scheduled for March 30 and April 1 will take place.
“The ball is in the Government’s court.”
The agreement won't mean a complete end to rail strikes as staff working for train companies are part of separate disputes.
But the result does mean that one of the three disputes on the railways has now ended.
RMT members who work for 14 train operating companies are still due to strike on March 30 and April 1.
The deal is a significant breakthrough which will be welcomed by the industry
PA
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."
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