The December rail strikes are under way, with cancellations set to continue into 2023.
Network Rail staff who belong to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have stopped work as part of a dispute that has rumbled on for six months.
The Network Rail staff include signallers and engineers who run the Great Britain railway infrastructure. Union representatives are engaged in talks with management of this “public sector arm’s length body of the Department for Transport”.
Alongside the striking Network Rail workers, other RMT staff working for 14 train operators have walked out. This dispute involves a separate dispute, in which the RMT is talking to the Rail Delivery Group.
Network Rail bosses have been in intensive negotiations since the RMT called the latest strike, which have also involved other unions.
On 4 December Network Rail made an offer. Members of the Unite union accepted it, and those employees have called off planned industrial action. But the RMT put the deal out to a referendum of its members with a recommendation to reject it.
RMT announced on 12 December that 63.6 per cent of members (of an 83 per cent turnout) rejected the most recent pay offer from Network Rail.
It means widespread strike action will continue throughout this week on 14, 16 and 17 December, as well as from 3-4 and 6-7 January as well. These strikes will involve Network Rail workers alongside 14 train operating companies, including: CrossCountry, LNER, TransPennine Express, Great Western Railway, West Midlands Trains and GTR (Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express).
Meanwhile, only Network Rail staff are strike from 6pm Christmas Eve until 6am on 27 December, a move specifically targeting engineering works.
Here’s everything we know about the deal offered by Network Rail, why it was rejected and what RMT union members are asking for.
What deal were RMT members offered?
Network Rail offered RMT members a 5 per cent pay rise this year, and a 4 per cent pay rise in 2023 (9 per cent in total).
The rail infrastructure manager has also guaranteed no compulsory redundancies before 2025 and no changes to Network Rail employees’ terms and conditions.
Other perks included discounted rail travel for staff’s family and friends; Network Rail described the deal as its “best and final” offer.
What deal are RMT members asking for?…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…