UK rail unions are threatening to hold ballots for industrial action within seven days if Network Rail does not improve its two-year pay offer for 7,000 signalling and operations staff.
Members of the RMT union and the Transport Salaried Staffs” Association (TSSA) voted down the deal by two to one in co-ordinated referenda that closed yesterday (6 March).
The offer is 4.8% in 2008 and RPI plus 0.5% in 2009.
”We are happy to accept 4.8% from January for this year but next year”s offer would mean a cut in our members” living standards with soaring power bills and higher pension contributions,” said TSSA assistant general secretary Manuel Cortes.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow added: ”Members have voted decisively to reject an inadequate offer that would leave them less well off.
”Their verdict is quite clear and we have told Network Rail that unless there is an acceptable offer on the table within seven days we will put in place arrangements for a ballot for strike action.”
A Network Rail spokesman said: ”A very fair offer has been put on the table - what”s interesting is that they are happy with the 4.8%, and that was RPI (fixed in November) plus 0.5%. We don”t know what it will equate to next year yet because we don”t know what RPI will be, but it”s the same deal.
”We”ll sit down with them ” we”ve still got lots of time to find a resolution because any strike would still be at least a month away. This is only the result of a referendum ” it”s hardly surprising that members voted just to see if they could get more pay.”
Network Rail has not had a good 2008 so far, receiving a record fine last month from the rail regulator for its engineering overruns which caused so much New Year commuter chaos.
And to the suggestion that the company could not afford to see 7,000 staff striking, the spokesman told ABTN: ”Things are tight - there isn”t spare cash floating about, we”ve got a massive amount to invest in the railway, and we”ve put a very fair offer on the table. Anyone in the outside world would recognise this as generous ” I”m sure police, nurses and firemen would agree.”