Rail dispute unlikely to end without mandate for industry to negotiate – RMT

The rail dispute will continue into the new year unless the Government gives the industry a mandate to negotiate a settlement to the long running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, a union has warned.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) accused ministers of “abdicating their responsibility” to sort out the industrial unrest.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has claimed the Government is blocking rail employers from making a deal.

Since meeting a minister last week there have been no further scheduled negotiations to try to prevent upcoming strikes on Network Rail, said the RMT.

It pointed out that it has agreed deals in every part of the railway network where the Department for Transport is not involved.

Pay offers from Network Rail (NR) and the train operating companies are “well below” what has been agreed in Scotland, Wales and where metro mayors have control of the rail franchise, the RMT said.

A rejected offer from NR was conditional on “ripping up” working conditions for railway workers, while on the train operators, RMT members would have had to accept a “paltry“ pay rise, driver only operations across the whole network, and the closure of all ticket offices, creating an inaccessible and less safe railway, said the union.

Mr Lynch said: “The union remains available for talks to resolve this dispute.

“But until the Government gives the rail industry a mandate to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and condition of work, our industrial campaign will continue into the new year, if necessary.”

A Department of Transport spokesperson said: “Far from blocking a deal, the Transport Secretary and rail minister have facilitated talks and ensured a fair and reasonable offer was put forward, which the RMT rejected despite a significant number of members voting to accept.

“After two years of virtual Christmases, the British public deserve better than to have their festive celebrations impacted by strikes. We urge them to step back, reconsider and accept the fair offer put to them, so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.”

The RMT said pay deals it has secured include:

– Eurostar International: 8% pay rise.

-Eurostar – Mitie security: 10% pay rise for all staff and 29% for the lowest paid.

– ScotRail: 7-9% backdated to April this year.

– Transport for Wales, between 6.6% and 9.5%.

– Merseyrail 7%.

– MTR Crossrail: 8.2% (2021-2022).

– Docklands Light Railway: 9.25%.

– London Underground: 8.4% (2021).