Rail strikes: Improved pay offer could settle RMT dispute with train operators

Offer is worth 5 per cent in 2022 with an additional 4 per cent this year – but significantly more for lower-paid staff

The RMT union says it has received an improved offer from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), raising hopes that one of the long and most bitter national rail disputes may soon be over.

The union says the pay deal is worth 5 per cent – or a minimum of £1,750, whichever is higher – in 2022, with a 4 per cent rise for 2023.

For anyone earning £30,000 or less, the deal is worth over 10 per cent over two years.

The proposals on pay and job security are contingent on cost savings and alterations to current contractual terms and working practices.

Moves to bring Sunday into the normal working week for all rail firms would be advanced, and part-time workers recruited.

But a much-despised plan to expand driver-only operation of trains appears to have been dropped. Proposals to close station ticket offices would go out to consultation, though the union is set against them.

The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “The National Executive Committee will be considering this matter and has made no decision on the proposals nor any of the elements within them.

“We will give an update on our next steps in due course.”

Unlike the previous offer from the RDG, made in early December, it has not been rejected out of hand – signalling that the package may now be put to members.

The Independent understands that a decision by the RMT National Executive Committee is unlikely to happen before next week.

The RDG represents 14 train operators whose services are specified by the Department for Transport (DfT). Staff have walked out on a series of one- and two-day strikes over the past seven months.

The Rail Delivery Group stresses it is a “best and final offer” and is contingent on radical changes “that will improve how the industry delivers services to passengers”.

It has guaranteed no compulsory redundancies this year or next – an improvement to the previous offer of 1 April 2024.

But the RDG says: “A voluntary redundancy scheme will be made available for those who wish to leave the industry.

The employers’ group says the strikes have cost £480m in lost ticket revenue and that staff have lost up to £2,000 in pay by walking out.

Steve Montgomery, chair of the RDG, said: “With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175 million a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-covid, we urge the RMT to put this offer to its members so we can  bring an end to this damaging dispute for our people, our passengers and the long-term future of Britain’s railways.”

A previous pay offer from infrastructure provider Network Rail was put out to a referendum of members with a recommendation to reject, which 52 per cent duly did.

Negotiations are continuing between the RMT and Network Rail.

A separate pay dispute involving train drivers belonging to the Aslef union and the train operators will see another round of national strikes on 1 and 3 February.