Rail dispute continues as RMT union rejects latest offer from employers
The biggest rail workers union has rejected an offer from train operators aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) offered an 8 per cent pay rise and guarantee of no compulsory redundancies before April 2024.
But within hours of the offer, it was rejected by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT).
The RMT said: "The RDG is offering 4 per cent in 2022 and 2023 which is conditional on RMT members accepting vast changes to working practices, huge job losses, Driver Only Operated [DOO] trains on all companies and the closure of all ticket offices."
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "We have rejected this offer as it does not meet any of our crite
ria for securing a settlement on long-term job security, a decent pay rise and protecting working conditions.
"The RDG and Department of Transport, who sets their mandate, both knew this offer would not be acceptable to RMT members.
"If this plan was implemented, it would not only mean the loss of thousands of jobs but the use of unsafe practices such as DOO and would leave our railways chronically understaffed.
"RMT is demanding an urgent meeting with the RDG with a view to securing a negotiated settlement on job security, working conditions and pay."
The RMT said Network Rail have also made a "complex" offer on pay and working practices which the union's executive will consider today.
The RMT said the RDG was proposing that all workforce changes were accepted without reservation or industrial action, including closure of all ticket offices and displacement of all retail staff, of a new multi-skilled station grades plan, a "mass job severance programme", Driveronly Operation of trains in all companies and on all passenger services, new arrangements for mandatory Sunday working and a review of all on-train catering services leading to cutbacks in provision and jobs.
Other proposals included flexible working contracts, mandatory adoption of new technology with no payment and new annual leave and sick pay arrangements, said the union.
The RDG said its offer will deliver "vital and long overdue" changes to working arrangements.
A statement said a draft framework agreement gives the RMT the chance to call off its planned industrial action and put the offer to its membership.
The strikes, on December 13-14 and 16-17, coupled with an overtime ban over Christmas, would result in a month of disruption on the network, said the RDG.
Employers tabled the draft framework agreement after several weeks of intensive talks.
A spokesperson from the RDG said: “This is a fair and affordable offer in challenging times, providing a significant uplift in salary for staff.”
They added: “If approved by the RMT, implementation could be fast-tracked to ensure staff go into Christmas secure in the knowledge that they will receive this enhanced pay award early in the New Year alongside a guarantee of job security until April 2024.”