RMT union and Network Rail reach dispute resolution

members employed by Network Rail have voted in favour of a revised offer covering pay, jobs and conditions, bringing an end to the long-running dispute between the two organisations.

The revised offer was put to union members to vote on, attracting a turnout of nearly 90% of those employed by Network Rail; 76% voted to accept the offer.

According to the RMT, the key features of the accepted offer include:

■ An uplift on salaries of between 14.4% for the lowest paid grades to 9.2% for the highest paid.

■ A total uplift on basic earnings between 15.2% for the lowest paid grades to 10.3% for the highest paid.

■ Increased back pay.

■ Renewing the no compulsory redundancy agreement until January 2025.

■ Network Rail withdrawing its previous insistence that the offer was conditional on the RMT accepting the company’s ‘modernising maintenance’ plans.

■ Discounted rail travel benefits. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “I am pleased that RMT members were able to vote on this offer, and the overwhelming vote in favour is good news for our people, our passengers and our country. I am grateful for everyone who worked so hard at Network Rail and in the RMT to find a way through this dispute. My team and I will now focus all our efforts on rebuilding our railway so we can provide a better service for our passengers and freight customers.”

Meanwhile, strikes by the RMT for late March and early April involving 14 train operators were suspended on March 22 after a new offer was tabled by the Rail Delivery Group.