By Andy Warnock-Smith, RMT member
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) representing train operating companies tabled an insulting offer of 4% for 2022 and 4% for 2023, which equates to a 20% pay cut because rail workers haven’t had a pay increase for 3 years. They offered a no compulsory redundancy agreement, but only until April 2024.
This offer was also conditional on acceptance of closure of all ticket offices, changes in working practices and driver-operator-only (DOO) on all passenger services. The insertion of DOO as a national principle into the document was due to Government insistence against the wishes of the RDG, who were aware that this was an RMT red line. Tory Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, was asked about his intervention on several occasions at the recent Transport Select Committee but refused to give an answer.
The Government has prevented any progress being made in negotiations, and therefore a resolution to this dispute is now further away than ever. The loss of thousands of jobs and compromising safety is totally unacceptable. So the strike actions will go ahead on December 13, 14, 16, 17 and January 3, 4, 6 and 7.
RMT members have recently renewed the mandate by a massive majority and therefore this dispute will continue until there is an agreement on job security, protecting working conditions and a cost of living pay increase.
RMT policy is to co-ordinate industrial action with other trade unions in dispute and they have been contacted by Mick Lynch.
Network Rail have offered 5%, or £1750, whichever is the greater, for 2022, and 4% for 2023 on condition of acceptance of massive job losses and changes in working practices, which is being put to the members in a referendum ballot with a strong recommendation to reject.
The proposed industrial action in line with TOC members plus Christmas Day and Boxing Day is scheduled to go ahead.
