The RMT union is to consider a new pay offer made by Network Rail to try to end an ongoing dispute that led to a nationwide strike on the UK’s railways last month.
Network Rail said the latest pay offer, which is worth more than 5 per cent to staff, was “conditional on achieving savings through modernising reforms" and it stressed that employees need to “accept change and compromise”.
But the RMT said the offer was a “real terms pay cut” over the next two years and added that it also involved cutting back on maintenance roles by one-third.
Mick Lynch, the union’s general secretary, said its national executive committee would consider Network Rail’s proposal on Wednesday (13 July) but a positive response to the offer seems unlikely.
“Network Rail and the train operating companies need to understand that RMT has done deals with both London Underground and recently Merseyrail that were well in excess of what our members are being offered here,” added Lynch.
“Our members have lost thousands of pounds in earnings due to a pay freeze in recent years and they refuse to be short-changed again.
“We will not hesitate to call further strike action and seek to co-ordinate with other unions if the rail industry will not seek a negotiated settlement with us.”
Earlier this week, train drivers’ union Aslef said that its members working for eight UK train operating companies had voted to take strike action in their own pay dispute. But the union has yet to announce any strike dates.