RMT members to vote on new Network Rail pay offer

theguardian.com:

The RMT union has said members will vote in a referendum over the next 12 days on a revised pay offer from Network Rail, in a move that could spell the end to the most damaging rail strikes.

On Tuesday night the unioncalled off a 24-hour strike at Network Rail planned for next Thursday, 16 March, which would have included thousands of signallers, critical for allowing the railway to run.

Four 24-hour strikes by RMT members at 14 train operators are still scheduled over the coming weeks, but in most parts of Britain the action will have far less impact than a Network Rail strike.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Network Rail have made a new and improved offer and now our members will decide whether to accept it.

“We will continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on all aspects of the railway dispute.”

Network Rail bosses have been confident that a referendum on the new offer will swing in favour of acceptance, after a substantial minority voted to accept a similar deal in a ballot before Christmas.

The union said it would not make a recommendation, after last time asking members to reject the offer. Voting in the referendum will start on Thursday 9 March, and run until midday on 20 March.

Although the overall headline pay increase, of 5% backdated to January 2022 and 4% from January 2023, has not changed, some revisions and more work explaining the pros and cons of new contracts was expected to bring sections of the workforce on board.

The RMT said the offer would raise overall earnings by 15%-plus for more than half the members, at the lower end of the pay scale, including increased backpay.

The deal is likely to still prove divisive, with many staff apparently angry at the lack of progress on pay, while others