Railway strike breakers will be offered double time and an extra day off if they work while their colleagues take action over pay and safety conditions.
The RMT union has condemned as “despicable” a proposal by Network Rail to give bonus payments to staff who work through planned strike action later this month.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 13 train operators will go on strike for three days from June 21.
More than 40,000 workers are expected to take part.
Railway staff face an effective pay freeze and say Network Rail plans to cut up to 2500 jobs for workers who maintain tracks, signals and overhead lines among other things.
In an online video meeting with staff, seen by the Daily Record, a Network Rail official confirmed that employees would be paid more for working on strike days.
The official said: “It is not necessarily for working during a strike, it is where we have contingency for specific roles.
“But, yes it is true that there will be double pay and a day in lieu to those who fill in a role within the strike days.”
A Network Rail spokesperson confirmed the policy.
The official said: “Network Rail is focused on averting this strike through continued compromise and talks, or if that’s not possible, by providing the best service possible for passengers and freight users.”
“We are making some attractive offers for our people who are willing to go that extra mile and keep trains running during any strike that happens. Our passengers would expect and deserve nothing less.”
Gordon Martin, RMT Regional organiser for Scotland, described the strike-breaking tactic as “despicable”.
He said: “It is yet another example of Network Rail being willing to throw money at not running a train service instead of aiming it at people who provide a safe and reliable train service 24/7, all year round.
“If only Network Rail would get real and get round the negotiating table we could find a way of resolving this without strike action.”
The Conservatives have changed Commons business in Westminster today to stage a debate on the industrial action in an effort to portray Labour as militant strike backers.
Commons Leader Mark Spencer confirmed MPs will debate a “motion on rail strikes” following a last-minute switch to parliamentary business, although he did not confirm the specific details under consideration.
Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire called on Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to focus on getting an agreement “hammered out” with the unions.
The RMT’s Gordon Martin accused the Tory Ministers of grandstanding instead of helping to solve the dispute.
He said: “This is Boris’s miners’ strike and he thinks he’s Margaret Thatcher. All people want is a reasonable pay and their jobs not to be under constant attack.
“Ultimately, if they cut train services, it is an inconvenience but if they cut rail infrastructure they will kill people. That’s what this is about.”
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