The RMT Union has rejected the lastest round of offers from Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group.
After an in-depth consultation with every level of the union, the NEC decided to reject both offers, saying that they do not meet the expectations of members on pay, job security and working conditions.
The RMT says it is looking for an unconditional pay offer with job security and no detrimental changes to terms, conditions and working practices.
Further meetings are now been sought after with Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group in order to work towards a deal.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We have carried out an in-depth consultation of our 40,000 members and the message we have received loud and clear is to reject these dreadful offers.
“Our members cannot accept the ripping up of their terms and conditions or to have safety standards on the railway put into jeopardy under the guise of so-called modernisation.
“If our union did accept these offers, we would see a severe reduction in scheduled maintenance tasks, making the railways less safe, the closure of all ticket offices and thousands of jobs stripped out of the industry when the railways need more investment not less.
“We have carried out an extensive listening exercise and our members have spoken.
“It is now time for the employers and the government to listen to railway workers in their tens of thousands.
“Our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes to get a negotiated settlement that meets our members reasonable expectations on jobs, pay and working conditions.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “Our passengers and many hard-working RMT members will be deeply dismayed that the union leadership has opted to reject our fair proposals without putting out a vote to their full membership in a democratic referendum.
“Having listened to the union’s concerns during recent negotiations, we went back to the table with substantial changes to give colleagues a minimum pay increase of at least 9% over two years – rising to over 13% for the lowest paid – which they will now miss out on without even having had an opportunity to have their say. We removed driver only operation and gave an improved job security offer.
“This decision will hit colleagues in their pockets and does not negate the need to make the vital changes needed to secure the railway’s sustainable future, at a time when taxpayers are still paying up to £175m a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post covid.
“The railway’s financial crisis is not going away. We remain willing to engage, but the RMT leadership must now accept the urgent need to make the railway fit for the future for both our people, and the communities the railway serves.”
Responses
Further. It now seems likely the RMT wants to strike possible every Saturday and to muck up May Bank Holidays. How far will they sink before before having a ballot on the latest pay offer.
I wonder what Mick Lynch doesn’t understand about ‘best and final offer’. The RMT are not going to get an inflation busting pay rise and continued strikes are just going to lose his members more days pay which they will NEVER recover. But then of course ML is on £100000k plus and never goes on strike. Its only a matter of time before fed up railway workers refuse to engage in more strikes and vote with their feet to settle.
This strike is now damaging the economy significantly, particularly the hospitality industry and I’d contributing to lowering the tax take, which has severe effects on us all, well as loss to rail industry income. It is not just a strike that effects customers of a particular industry. It is really time Government took some action,by say, reducing all train timetables by 50%.
This dispute is now having serious economic consequences. Apart from loss of fares ( which now might be £2b ?), there is significant damage being done to hospitality industry. All this contributes to lowering the potential tax take of the Government, which affects us all.It is time the Government took urgent (unfortunately draconian) action like cutting train service by 50% for a period. If we cannot use the trains effectively, there is little point having them and paying for them.
This lunacy has gone too far.The longer the strikes go on the more they damage the economy. That is, for example, the hospitality industry , which employees at lot of people who all should be earning and paying tax. All the time the potential tax take is adversely affected vat etc,etc.That is not accounting for how much rail fare income has been lost and rents at large stations etc.You have got to ask why they won’t put offer to member vote.I have got to say the Government should act now.Draconian as it is , they should cut rail service by half for a period.
Thing is this offer was virtually same as last one that was rejected
How can you have a “negotiated settlement” while demanding an “unconditional settlement”? Negotiation requires compromise, but the RMT refuses to concede anything because it’s not interested in a settlement. RMT and ASLEF are waging an undeclared political war to try to overturn a democratically elected government (albeit the party in power isn’t one I personally support). It’s fundamentally dishonest to pretend it’s about pay and conditions.
The government should call the entire industry’s bluff by freezing all further subsidy to the railways until employers and employees prove they are able & willing to deliver a reliable, year-round, 7-day-a-week service. That’s what passenger & freight customers and taxpayers are paying for – but we haven’t been receiving it for years.
Utter rubbish to blame the workers for government and management failures on running a fragmented for profit railway
You can blame the workers for being ludites.A large number of working people has had to adapt to changes “to their day job” they might not have liked but were virtually essential for moving on in changing circumstances.
Agree entirely.
Totally agree.