02.06.15
New offer from Network Rail to unions includes 2% salary increase
Two national rail strikes planned for the coming weeks have been postponed as the unions consider a new offer, including a 2% salary increase, from Network Rail.
The RMT union was set to hold a 24-hour strike from 5pm on Thursday 4 June, and a 48-hour strike from 5pm on Tuesday 9 June, but these have now been called off after four days of talks at conciliation service Acas.
The new offer includes a 2% increase in pay this year, backdated to 1 January 2015, with pay increasing in line with RPI inflation in 2016. Network Rail has also agreed there will be no compulsory redundancies until 2017 and that it will consult with unions on a job security package.
This improves on the previous offer which was made to avert the strike planned for 25 May, which included a 1% rise for 2015 and a 1.4% increase in 2016. Network Rail also offered the unions an extra 0.7% from 2016 if they could come to an agreement with the unions on “Smarter Better Working”.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Following extensive Acas talks throughout the weekend RMT has now received a revised offer that enables us to suspend the planned industrial action while we consult in full on the details of the revised package with our Network Rail representatives.”
The TSSA, who were due to walk out in the 25 May action, were not involved in the upcoming planned strike but were instead due to conduct a referendum on whether to accept the previous pay offer. They have now cancelled this ballot to consider the new offer.
Unite, who has yet to ballot for strike action, were also consulting members on the previous offer but will now take the new offer to members.
Unite national officer for rail Tony Murphy said: “We are calling a meeting of our reps, representing our 230 members, to discuss the new offer on Thursday (4 June) and it is likely that we will run a consultative ballot on this offer from 5-15 June.”
Network Rail had estimated it would only be able to run 15% of all services if a walk out of RMT’s track and signalling workers went ahead.
Chief executive Mark Carne said: “I am very pleased that the industrial action has been suspended. With Acas's help, we have had very constructive talks with the unions over the weekend and I hope they will be able to agree this deal.”
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