09.06.15
RMT recommends members accept Network Rail pay offer
The threat of a national rail strike appears to be over as RMT recommends that its members accept the new pay deal from Network Rail.
Senior representatives met last week to discuss the offer and the union’s General Grades Committee decided to ask members to vote – with a recommendation to accept the revised offer.
This marks a stark change from the last deal worked out between the unions and Network Rail at Acas, which RMT representatives rejected without putting it to a vote.
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.
It 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’.
Phil Hufton, Network Rail managing director of Network Operations, said: “After weeks of tough negotiations, we have put a deal on the table that we hope people will find acceptable.
“This deal rewards our people for their hard work and will also enable the company to find different ways of working.
“We are hopeful for a positive response from our people and look forward to moving forward together to improve railway performance for our customers and passengers.”
Voting slips are being despatched to RMT members this week. The TSSA and Unite are also to ballot their members on the new deal.
(Picture by: Jonathan Brady)
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