UK
RMT has received new pay offer from train operators, union says

Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent
Thu, 19 January 2023 



Train operators have made a fresh offer to the RMT union of a 9% rise over two years for onboard crew and station staff, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running pay dispute.

The increased pay package has watered down controversial clauses that resulted in the RMT immediately rejecting a deal from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train operators, in December.

The RMT leader Mick Lynch said he would put the proposed deal to the union’s executive committee. However, the union warned that some of the reforms could lead to widespread ticket office closures, which it did not support.

Talks have been ongoing in London this week between the RMT and RDG as well as separately with Network Rail.

The RDG said it had made a “best and final offer” including a pay rise of 4% from this January and 5% (or a minimum £1,750 rise) backdated to January 2022.

A two-year 8% offer was rejected in December and followed by almost four weeks of further strikes and industrial action.

The RMT accused the government of sabotaging the prospective deal by demanding more driver-only operation of trains (DOO), regarded as a red line by the union.

As well as offering slightly higher pay, the new package has withdrawn the critical DOO demand.

However, the deal stipulates mandatory Sunday working when rostered, more flexible working, the ability to move staff between nearby stations when needed, and paves the way for other reforms that the union has strongly resisted – not least, the potential wholesale closure of ticket offices.

Ticket office staff would be redesignated under a new multi-skilled grade – allowing station ticket offices to be closed or repurposed, subject to public consultation.

Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “This is a fair offer that gives RMT members a significant uplift over the next two years – weighted particularly for those on lower incomes who we know are most feeling the squeeze – while allowing the railway to innovate and adapt to new travel patterns. It also means we can offer our people more varied, rewarding careers.

“With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175m a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-Covid, we urge the RMT to put this offer to its members so we can bring an end to this damaging dispute for our people, our passengers and the long-term future of Britain’s railways.”

Staff will also be guaranteed no compulsory redundancies until the end of 2024, an improvement to the previous offer of 1 April 2024.

The RDG said it would also offer retraining and an apprenticeship scheme, while a voluntary redundancy scheme would be made available for staff who wished to leave the industry.

The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “The national executive committee will be considering this matter and has made no decision on the proposals nor any of the elements within them.

“We will give an update on our next steps in due course.”

The union’s NEC is expected to meet from Monday.

Network Rail has said it will not increase the overall financial package proposed in its offer to the RMT, which is also 9%. However, negotiations are continuing over what a Network Rail source called the “unappreciated benefits” of the deal, and addressing other issues, after it was rejected in a referendum in December.

Further rail strikes by train drivers are scheduled for 1 and 3 February, after Aslef members rejected an 8% two-year deal earlier this week.