There has finally been a breakthrough with the ongoing industrial action across the UK rail sector as Transport for Wales (TfW) has successfully agreed on a pay deal for workers with the trade unions.
The terms of this agreement come as an increased base line pay increase of around 4.5%, with various parts of the organisation subject to different pay models.
This monumental news could be the catalyst for further successful negotiations across the sector as pressure is mounting for deals that can avoid further disruption. Mick Lynch, General Secretary of RMT noted how this can be an example of how to progress with this ongoing issue, as he notes that the “Welsh Government have clearly shown that Rail disputes can be avoided by meaningful negotiations.”
James Price, TfW CEO offered a response to this news, saying:
“We are extremely pleased to have reached a deal with all our partners in the industry trade unions – ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite. We’re continuing to work in collaboration with our Trade Unions as we build our social partnership model offering benefits for all.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners involved in negotiations and also highlight the importance of supporting our workforce in this cost-of-living crisis.”
As the UK struggles with ongoing economic strife, further successful negotiations will help to settle some of the public unrest, bringing much needed stability in a time of uncertainty. The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters commented on the need for England to follow suit, saying:
“We strongly urge the UK Government to follow our lead by negotiating a pay settlement with Unions in England so that further strike action and disruption for passengers and freight is avoided.”
Natalie Feeley, Regional Organiser, Western Region TSSA added:
“After sometimes negotiating in challenging circumstances, TSSA is pleased that we have been able to secure a good deal for our members. This is testament to the social partnership approach which we actively embrace and promote in all of our dealings with the company.”
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