Managers with Network Rail have voted to accept a pay offer, their union has announced. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said its management grade members accepted a 4% increase in a ballot.
TSSA organising director Luke Chester said: “While falling short of our aspirations on basic pay, this agreement has the significant benefit of addressing many of our members’ long-standing concerns, including staff travel facilities. It’s very good news that our union was able to stand up collectively and win concessions across the board from the company which will really benefit our members.
“However, it’s a shame that managers had to vote for industrial action before we could make progress. We remain committed to further dialogue with Network Rail (NR) to build on these gains and deliver a fair deal for our members going forward.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s lead negotiator, said: “We are pleased that the TSSA’s management grade colleagues have voted to accept the pay deal we offered, which includes a 4% increase on base pay from 1 July and heavily discounted leisure travel for employees and their immediate families. We believe this is a deal that is both fair for our employees and affordable for passengers and taxpayers.”
The TSSA announced on Thursday (August 4) that thousands of its NR members in general grades and controllers will strike on August 18 and 20, alongside members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union in a continuing row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “It’s fantastic news that TSSA’s management grade members have recognised the fairness of Network Rail’s pay offer and voted to accept it. When unions work collaboratively and productively with industry like this, they can come to agreements which benefit both staff and passengers alike and deliver the essential modernisations our railways need.
“This acceptance by these TSSA members will mean that we have a strong, reliable contingency staff for any future strikes and will be able to run services for passengers and minimise disruption to lives of everyday people. Unions working with industry instead of against is the only way forward out of this dispute and a necessary step to end these destructive strikes and to put our railways on a secure footing for the future.”
