Rail strikes called off but ‘archaic practices’ will linger on

RAIL unions last night called off a wave of strike action due to start today, amid mounting speculation that staff could be offered double-digit pay rises and be allowed to continue “outdated” working practices.

The RMT union abandoned walkouts today and on Monday and Wednesday after Network Rail made an about-turn on plans to force through reforms to the working conditions of maintenance staff. It is thought a deal on pay could be announced in the coming days.

Management previously offered Network Rail staff a rise of 8 per cent over the next two years, which was rejected as too low.

Mick Lynch, the union’s general secretary, has previously said he wanted a rise at least equal to inflation, which is running at 10.1 per cent.

Neither side would comment on the amount of money on the table. However, the breakthrough came too late to avoid major disruption today, with just one in five services expected to run. Monday services are also likely to be affected.

Separately, hopes were raised of a breakthrough in a dispute between Royal Mail and 110,000 members of the Communication Workers Union. Royal Mail said: “There will now be an intensive period of negotiations.”

The RMT said that it would now enter into negotiations to strike a deal with Network Rail. Staff at train operating companies have also cancelled strikes.

Mr Lynch claimed victory and said that the RMT action this summer had “made rail employers see sense”.

State-backed Network Rail had previously vowed to end archaic practices such as allowances for workers’ “walking time” and a ban on specialist teams sharing vans.

In the summer, it announced a consultation aimed at “dumping outdated working practices”. Insiders said at the time that the company was furious at rules that meant it took nine people to change a plug socket. A source said: “Let’s imagine you want to change a single socket in your kitchen. Potentially you’d need an electrician, a tiler and a plumber as your dishwasher waste pipe will need adjusting too.

“In Network Rail we can’t roster individuals, only teams and we can’t multiskill those teams so we’d need to send a team of three electricians, three tilers and three plumbers – nine people to do a job one person could do.”