Network Rail's 3.5% pay increase to thousands of employees rejected by RMT union

18 April 2024 , 14:28

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Network Rail has offered a 3.5% pay rise for thousands of its staff (Image: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)

Network Rail has proposed a 3.5% pay rise for thousands of its staff such as signallers and maintenance workers.

This comes after the company was entangled in a pay and condition dispute last year which led to members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) going on strike. A representative from Network Rail said: "Network Rail is currently in pay talks with its trade unions over a pay offer for 2024 covering over half of its workforce."

The representative added: "Today we have put forward a 3.5% unconditional pay increase offer, which also includes a range of other benefits for our employees."

It seems however, that this has not been viewed favourably by the unions as the spokesperson noted, "This offer, which we believe is fair and represents a significant increase given current and forecast rates of inflation, has been rejected by the unions. We expect negotiations to continue." These talks are relevant for about 25,500 employees.

The RMT said it had rejected the offer, adding that the benchmark measure of inflation used for negotiations is the November RPI figure which was 5.3%.

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RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Network Rail is once again making an offer that represents a cut in living standards as pay is not keeping up with the rising costs of rent, mortgages, energy, food and other essentials. As a result, RMT is calling for urgent fresh negotiations and a much-improved offer for this year.”

Lawrence Matheson