The RMT is to ballot some 16,000 Network Rail members for strike action and action short of a strike after staff rejected proposals for a pay package through an earlier referendum vote.
The union claims that latest pay proposals, which would involve a £500 non-consolidated lump sum payment this year, fall well short of what is required to maintain living standards. The proposal involved an RPI level of inflation increase in pay applied in each of 2016, 2017 and 2018. In addition, a ‘No Compulsory Redundancy’ commitment would be extended until December 31 2016. Some 56% of members voted in the referendum, rejecting the offer by 93%.
The affected staff work in NR operations and maintenance roles. Talks at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) were unable to result in agreement between the RMT and NR management.
Rosanna Tell - 17/04/2015 06:59
My father works as a railway signaller, he works long hours and nearly every weekend. He's been told his manual signalbox will close next year due to these so called Rocs. He's not much chance of getting a job in one of these centres. They are jobs for the right person that meet managements criteria. He needs a payrise this and next year to increase his pension & redundancy payment so he can support our family while he finds another job.