Strike threats over rail pay

COMMUTERS are facing strike misery nationwide after a militant union pressed for inflation-busting pay rises for thousands of Network Rail workers.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union will seek a new pay deal for track maintenance staff by the end of the year.

Their current deal links pay rises to the retail prices index (RPI) measure of inflation, which is now at 3.2 per cent.

The RMT, which represents the majority of Network Rail’s 25,000 staff, is thought to be pushing for a pay hike above RPI.

Yesterday Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, threatened strikes. Conservative MP Chris Philp accused it of trying to ‘hold commuters to ransom’.