Today (18 December), Network Rail bosses met with negotiators from trades unions representing rail workers (RMT, TSSA and Unite) and offered a paltry pay rise of just 3.5%.
This comes immediately after the announcement that RPI inflation in November was 3.8%. Network Rail workers would therefore be left poorer if this offer is accepted. RMT entered into an industrial dispute over this pay claim with Network Rail over two months ago, and this proposal is the first formal offer that Network Rail has finally presented.
Network Rail workers have received a real-terms pay-cut of 10% since the pandemic. To begin to rectify this, RMT has been asking for an above-inflation pay rise next year with a fixed minimum pay increase for the lowest paid workers.
RMT has not announced to members precisely what these figures should be. However, a motion was passed unanimously at Manchester and North West Regional Council this week setting out the expectation that rail workers should receive a minimum uplift of at least £2,500. Today’s offer clearly falls drastically short of this demand.
The dithering and delay from the bosses has yet again gone on for far too long. Workers are due a pay rise on 1 January. Earlier in the week, RMT members were informed that we "may be balloted for Industrial Action if your employer fails to provide a suitable solution this week."
Quite right!
Network Rail workers deserve far better than what was offered to us today. It is high time RMT moves to a ballot for strike action and action short of strike. Rail workers should reject this insulting offer, and fight for improvements in our pay and conditions.
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