Home » UK Employment news » RMT members vote to accept improved pay offer
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RMT union members have voted in favour of a five percent pay deal for the 2022-23 period, ending the months-long rail dispute.
The electronic ballot yielded overwhelming support for the proposal.
It allowed talks to advance for an additional deal in 2023-24 without the looming threat of strikes or redundancies.
Read More: Aslef Train Drivers Announce Strikes In December
However, the train drivers' union Aslef remains in dispute.
Members are initiating a week of action that includes an overtime ban and rolling strikes starting this Friday, December 1.
The RMT deal provides staff with a backdated pay rise effective April 2022.
It comes without alterations to terms and conditions and the prospect of ticket office closures.
Read More: England’s Rail Strikes Set To Extend For Six Months After Union Vote
The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “Our members have spoken in huge numbers to accept this offer and I want to congratulate them on their steadfastness in this long industrial campaign.
“We will be negotiating further with the train operators over reforms they want to see, and we will never shy away from vigorously defending our members’ terms and conditions, now or in the future.
“This campaign shows that sustained strike action and unity gets results and our members should be proud of the role they have played in securing this deal.”
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Talks for a pay rise effective from April 2023 are scheduled for early next year at individual train operators.
It potentially ties future pay increases to changes in working arrangements.
The union has announced a moratorium on fresh strike ballots until at least April if talks break down.
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The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said: “This is welcome news for passengers and a significant step towards resolving industrial disputes on the railway, giving workers a pay rise before Christmas and a pathway to delivering long overdue reforms.
“It remains the case that the train drivers’ union Aslef continue to block their members from having a say on the offer that would take train drivers’ median salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.
“Aslef should follow the RMT’s lead and give their members a say.”
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A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, said: “This welcome vote from RMT members will unlock a pay rise for our people, and means that fair agreements have now been reached with three out of the four unions involved in the recent industrial dispute.”
Tain drivers from companies contracted to the Department for Transport in England are gearing up for industrial action.
It’ll include a nationwide overtime ban and 24-hour strikes between December 2 and December 8.
It would affect multiple operators across the country.
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