The TSSA rail union has held a vote on whether to accept offers made by the train companies in the continuous fight to end the rail disputes over pay, job security and working conditions, with members voting to accept.
The recent strikes have been at the forefront of national interest, with serious passenger delays and disruptions resulting in revenue losses and major obstacles to be overcome in operational standards. The voting will result in an improved deal on pay, as well as commitments on job security and full consultation over any possible changes to terms and conditions.
An online ballot (which closed at midday) of over three thousand TSSA members within the rail industry, working in a variety of management, stations, control, engineering, clerical, and customer service roles, seeing an incredible majority of 80% of management grade and 60% of general grade members vote to accept the offers. This was on an overall return of 57% of affected members voting.
The results of this vote will mean that the TSSA will formally accept the offers and notify the train companies that ballots for continuing industrial action have been withdrawn. The union will now enter into discussions with employers on the detail of implementing all the principles and commitments contained in the settlement.
A TSSA spokesperson said: “This is a clear decision from our members which will end our long-running dispute – something which could have happened months ago had it not been for government intransigence.
“The incredible resolve we have seen from our members has resulted in a significantly improved pay deal over two years, commitments for no compulsory redundancies, improved opportunities for redeployment, as well as full consultation over proposed reforms to ticket offices and any changes to terms and conditions.
“Thanks to the great commitment of our members across the train companies they have collectively won a better future and can be rightly proud of their actions in this historic dispute.
“We will continue to hold the train companies and the government to account as we go forward because Britain needs a fully functioning rail network at the heart of our green industrial future, and as a means of rebuilding our economy in the wake of the Covid pandemic.”
As a result of painstaking negotiations with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on behalf of the train companies TSSA received two formal offers in relation to all members in the dispute.
The offers include -
A two year pay deal covering 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 which provides for a 5 per cent increase or a minimum increase of £1,750 whichever is the greater in year 1, and a further 4 per cent increase in year 2.
No compulsory redundancies of employees within the grades directly affected by the Workforce Changes (see below) from the date of the agreement until 31st December 2024.
The grades directly affected by the workforce changes are: - All station-based grades, all on board grades including catering and train-crew, all administration grades, all Fleet & Engineering grades. All Revenue Protection and Train Service Controller grades will be regarded as in scope for the purposes of the no compulsory redundancies commitment.
Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (VRS) – offering the terms set out under the RIRG Enabling Framework Agreement in 2021, to allow affected employees the opportunity to leave the industry should they wish to apply to do so.
TSSA continues to oppose the proposed closures of ticket offices, as made clear in the agreement.
The train companies involved in the scope of the new offer are - Avanti West Coast, C2C, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Govia Thameslink Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains Limited, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Trans Pennine Express, West Midlands Trains.
