Government and industry figures expressed optimism over a breakthrough to end the RMT’s long-running national rail strikes after the sector’s biggest union called off some of its industrial action and announced plans to put a revised pay offer from Network Rail to members.
The UK’s largest transport union said late on Tuesday that a new offer from Network Rail had “improved” the overall deal to such an extent that it was willing to put it to its members.
Senior industry executives were taken by surprise by the RMT’s sudden decision, and were optimistic a deal to solve a separate dispute with train companies was also now possible.
One senior minister said they were hopeful the union’s shift signalled an end to months of on-off strikes that started last summer, especially as inflation is forecast to fall from the high levels that sparked widespread industrial unrest as unions sought to secure their members better pay.
“It’s one thing to be making these big pay claims when inflation is in double digits, but experts now think it will fall to 5 per cent in the summer, then 3 per cent by the autumn and if that happens then you’d expect less public sympathy for the unions’ position,” the minister said. “The union leaders know that which is why I think there will be pressure to settle soon.”
The decision marked a significant change in stance for the RMT, which less than a month ago hardened its position and called for “unconditional” pay offers without reforms built in. The union said it would cancel a 24-hour strike at Network Rail on March 16 but was still planning four days of industrial action in a separate dispute with train operating companies on March 16, 18 and 30 and April 1.
Train operating companies called for urgent talks with the union, insisting it should put their pay offer to staff. “Train operating staff will rightly be asking why their union continues to deny them the opportunity to have their say on our equivalent offer,” the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said.
The RMT and Network Rail declined to comment and have not released details of the new pay offer, but one person familiar with its contents said the headline pay rises of 5 per cent for 2022 and 4 per cent for this year were unchanged.
Instead the timings of the rises have been altered to backdate this year’s pay rise to October 2022, offer staff more money, including a larger lump sum to help with the cost of living crisis if they accept the deal. There were also some changes to plans to reform employees’ contracts, the person said.
Industry executives have been hoping that fatigue would set in among the RMT membership in the long-running dispute, leading to pressure on the union leadership to reach a deal with employers. Senior executives have claimed a rise in the numbers of staff clocking on to work on strike days.
There has also been frustration that deals hammered out with union negotiators, including general secretary Mick Lynch, had been rejected out of hand by the union’s executive committee, which is regarded by industry bosses as more hardline than many members.
The RMT maintains it has strong support among members — pointing to repeated votes in favour of industrial action — and in a message to staff on Tuesday Lynch thanked members for their “solidarity and steadfast commitment”.
Train drivers, represented by Aslef, are involved in a separate dispute with train companies but have set no new strike dates with negotiations continuing.
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