The RMT has called new strikes across the rail network after train operating companies (TOCs) made an offer equivalent to a 7% real-terms pay cut, conditional on widespread changes to working practices.
The rail union said all strike action already planned for next week (13,14, 16 and 17 December) will go ahead, but that members will also be instructed not to book on from between 18.00 hours on December 24 through to 05.59 hours on December 27.
However, it said it would put a slightly improved offer from Network Rail to members in an ‘electronic referendum’, with a recommendation to reject.
It follows a media announcement from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents TOCs and has not previously made any offer on pay, that it was offering increases of 4% for this year, with the same rise next year, compared to inflation running at 11.1%.
A spokesperson described the offer as ‘fair and affordable in challenging times’.
The RDG also promised no compulsory redundancies until 2024 but attached to the offer a raft of demands for working practices, which would see staff moved from essential roles into roles from which they can be made redundant in future.
These included widespread closure of ticket offices and further moves towards driver operated trains. The RDG claimed that this would not mean removing staff from trains but implicitly admitted that some trains would run without an additional member of staff by arguing that the move ‘will lead to greater punctuality and reliability, particularly during disruption when staff can be delayed on incoming trains’.
Although the RDG said that its pay offer had been tabled ‘after several weeks of intensive talks’, it represents the same rise of 8% over two years that Network Rail made in the summer.
On Monday, the infrastructure operator increased its offer slightly to 5% this year and 4% next year.
Transport secretary Mark Harper said: ‘The Government has played its part by facilitating a fair and decent offer but, by instructing its members to reject it, the RMT has failed to play its part and our rail network now faces more harmful disruption rather than helpful discussion.’
Transport Network approached the Department for Transport for clarification as to how it had facilitated the offer and when the RMT had instructed its members to reject it. It received no response.
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