Rail workers, represented by the RMT, have voted to accept pay offers from train companies and Network Rail, effectively ending a national dispute that has plagued the industry for the past two years. The pay offers include increases of more than 4% for maintenance staff, signallers, train crew, and ticket office staff. The majority of RMT members who voted were in favor of the deals, with almost 89% supporting the offer for Network Rail staff.
The RMT expressed gratitude towards their members for their efforts during the long campaign and emphasized their commitment to supporting public ownership of the rail industry for the benefit of both workers and passengers. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh praised the agreement as a step towards fixing the railways and ensuring a more reliable service for passengers.
Last week, train drivers who are members of the Aslef union also voted to back a pay deal after taking 18 days of strike action since July 2022. The strikes caused significant disruption to rail services, highlighting the importance of reaching agreements to prevent further strikes and ensure a more efficient railway system.
Overall, the acceptance of these pay offers is seen as a positive step towards ending the ongoing disputes within the rail industry, minimizing disruptions for passengers, and working towards modernizing practices to create a better performing railway system.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
