As rail workers belonging to the RMT union prepare for 10 more days of national strikes, members of the white-collar TSSA union have voted “overwhelmingly” to accept the pay deal offered by Network Rail.
The rail infrastructure provider, an arm’s length body of the Department for Transport, proposed a 5 per cent increase for 2022 and 4 per cent for 2023, with higher figures for those on the lowest salaries. The union says it has also secured “job security and the nailing down of our terms and conditions”.
On a turnout of 70 per cent, 85 per cent voted to accept the proposal – meaning three out of five members were in favour. Earlier, members of the Unite union accepted an identical offer.
The TSSA’s organising director, Luke Chester said: “This is a decisive result with our members roundly endorsing this offer. It’s great news and a great deal for our members in Network Rail. It just shows what can be done through negotiations when there’s a serious offer on the table.
“Let me be clear though – this has only come about because our members stood together taking strike action to get a fair settlement when the company had failed to listen. Their dogged determination and some hard negotiations won this improved offer.
“However, the deal in Network Rail is significantly better than anything which has been proposed by the train operating companies and our fight goes on there with members continuing to take industrial action.
“If the rail companies and the government have any sense, they will now stop blocking the perfectly reasonable pathway to a deal and come back to the table with an improved offer which meets our aspirations.”
The same deal was rejected by members of the larger RMT union earlier this week by a majority of 64:36. Union leaders urged staff to reject the pay offer.
While Thursday is not a strike day, many trains started later than normal and cancellations will begin early evening ahead of the next 48-hour stoppage on Friday and Saturday.
Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “TSSA and Unite members have both voted to resoundingly accept the very same deal that the RMT continue to reject.
“We know there is a sizeable number of RMT members who want this deal and we can see that strike action is beginning to break down.
“Thousands of colleagues have refused to strike this…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…