Members of the RMT union in Network Rail have voted to accept a pay offer, the rail union announced today.
It could finally pave the way to the end of rail strikes which have blighted the country for months.
RMT announced that its 20,000 members have voted to accept a new and improved offer covering pay, jobs and conditions
Members voted by 76% to 24% to accept the offer - with a turnout of nearly 90%.
It marks the end of the trade dispute with Network Rail, following the most recent strike action in January.
Key features of the offer include an uplift on salaries of between 14.4 per cent for the lowest paid grades to 9.2 per cent for the highest paid.
It also included a total uplift on basic earnings between 15.2 per cent for the lowest paid grades to 10.3 per cent for the highest paid grades
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that when the union first declared the dispute with Network Rail a year ago in the Spring of 2022, RMT was told that Network Rail workers would only get two per cent to three per cent.
“However, since then strike action and the inspiring solidarity and determination of members has secured new money and a new offer which has been clearly accepted by our members and that dispute is now over," he said.
The accepted offer also included increased backpay, renewing of the no compulsory redundancy agreement until January 2025 and discounted rail travel benefits.
However, Mr Lynch emphasised that there disputes with other employers mean rail strikes are not yet over.
He said: “Our dispute with the Train Operating Companies remains firmly on and our members recent highly effective strike action across the fourteen train companies has shown their determination to secure a better deal.
“If the government now allows the train companies to make the right offer, we can then put that to our members but until then the strike action scheduled for March 30 and April 1 will take place.
“The ball is in the government’s court."
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “I am pleased Network Rail’s RMT members have voted to accept a fair and reasonable 5% plus 4% pay offer, over two years, that the Government worked hard to facilitate.
“While this is good news, unfortunately, RMT members who work for train operating companies are not being given the same chance to bring their dispute to an end. That’s because the RMT has refused to put the Rail Delivery Group’s very similar offer to a vote, denying these members the pay rise they deserve.
“That’s why I am once again urging the RMT to call off their upcoming strikes across train operating companies, put the Rail Delivery Group offer to a vote, and give all of their members a say.”
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