By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-09-25 13:25:15 | Updated at 2024-09-30 15:24:17
5 days ago
Rail workers have voted to accept pay offers by train companies and Network Rail, reducing the prospect of a repeat of the national strikes that have caused misery for passengers over the last two years.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) voted overwhelmingly to support the pay offers that will result in increases of more than 4% over the next two years.
The RMT said the ballot result meant that the long-running national dispute was now over and the outcome reflected collective efforts to defend jobs and pay conditions from the attacks of private contractors and the previous Conservative government.
The RMT held more than 30 days of industrial action since June 2022 over a previous pay dispute with Network Rail and rail operators.
A deal was agreed in March last year with Network Rail, while its deal with operators was concluded in November last year.
The latest pay deal will lead to union members at Network Rail, who are largely maintenance staff and signallers, receiving a 4.5% increase this year. Almost 89% of those members who voted were favour of the deal.
The agreement with operators, which covers train crew and ticket office staff, will lead to a 4.75% backdated increase on last year’s pay, with a 4.5% rise for the current financial year. The ballot featured 99% of voting members voting in favour of the deal.
In a statement, the RMT said: “We thank our members for their efforts during this long but successful campaign.
“Their resolve has been essential in navigating the challenges posed during negotiations and in particular the previous Tory government’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, alongside relentless attacks by sections of the media and the employers.
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“RMT remains focused and committed to supporting public ownership as a path to building a stronger future for the rail industry for both workers and passengers.”
Last week, train drivers who are members of the Aslef union voted to back a pay deal.
