Network Rail

Off The Rails mini-blog by and for Network Rail workers. Organising in the signal boxes and centres, on the track, in the depots and offices.

Network Rail's scab bonuses

Network Rail has withheld annual bonuses from staff who participated in strikes in the national dispute from June 2022.

Bosses have been explicit that the £300 bonus is a prize for scabbing: “Our position was made very clear: any discretionary payments would focus on those who continued to support...

Network Rail workers strike in Cardiff

Network Rail workers at Cardiff S&T (Signalling & Telecommunications) Depot will launch sustained strikes throughout September and October, as they attempt to push back the imposition of a worse roster.

RMT has called the imposition a "breach of national rostering agreements".

Strikes will begin...

Network Rail settlement: a track worker's view

While some (mostly not actual Network Rail workers) are lauding the dispute outcome as a win, let's just pause and look at the actual events that led up to this 'victory'.

Back in the heady days of May, we delivered a resounding majority in favour of strike action. The activists had worked hard...

Network Rail deal accepted

Network Rail workers in RMT have voted by a large margin to accept the company's latest offer on pay and conditions. 15,756 workers, out of a possible 18,302, voted in the referendum, with 12,047 voting to accept, and 3,709 voting to reject – a 76% majority.

Off The Rails advocated rejection in...

Network Rail: reject offer, reinstate strikes!

RMT has called off planned strikes by Network Rail workers, due for 16-17 March, after Network Rail made a new offer. The headline pay element involves a £1,750 consolidated increase, or a 5% increase, covering 1 January 2022 to 30 September 2022 (whichever is higher for a given role), and a further...

How to avoid a drawn-out dispute: intensify the action!

Recent comments by Aslef and RMT leaders suggest they think that the national disputes are going to be long, drawn out affairs... three years, in Aslef GS Mick Whelan’s case! And the supposed corollary of this for them is that we should continue to pursue slow and steady industrial action. Perhaps...

TSSA polishes a turd

TSSA is painting a slight tweak in the latest offer from Network Rail as a “win” for the union.

The tweak involves allowing workers who are registered carers to take “Carer’s Days” to fulfil their caring responsibilities, rather than using annual leave or unpaid time off.

We have no wish to...

New offer on Network Rail: “Go on strike, and stay on strike”!

RMT has published sent the latest offer from Network Rail, with annotated responses from reps on the National Operations Council and National Maintenance Council.

This is a good move on two counts; firstly, it’s transparent and allows all members to scrutinise the full offer in detail. Secondly...

A Network Rail worker writes: why I'm voting to reject the deal

I've voted no because:

- A £1,750 pay increase is - after tax and student loan and before pension - only an extra £78.88 in my pay packet.

- Over the three-year period (remember, this offer is for three years, not two, because 2021 is also included in this offer, with a 0% rise for most workers in...

Network Rail “offer” should be binned too

With Network Rail’s offer still miles away from union demands, RMT has rightly named more strikes, calling action from 24-27 December. It’s also put the offer, which entails below-inflation pay rises for 2022 and 2023, tied to acceptance of job cuts and restructures, to a referendum of members, with...

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