The British rail, Maritime and transport union RMT rejected Network Rail’s offer of a salary increase, which means that 40 thousand. its employees may hold new strikes.
This is stated in a statement distributed on Friday on the website of the trade union.
“After extensive and detailed consultations at every level of the trade union involved in disputes over the country’s railways, the National Executive Committee decided to reject both proposals on the grounds that they do not meet the expectations of members regarding wages, job retention or working conditions,” the statement says.
The employer offered railway workers to raise wages retroactively, from January last year, by 5%, and also by 4% – in 2023. It was about “the best and final offer.” At the same time, one of the demands of the trade union was to raise wages by the level of inflation. According to the results of last year, the price growth in the country amounted to a record 10.5% for almost 40 years.
“It’s time for employers and the government to listen to tens of thousands of railway workers. Our campaign will continue for as long as it takes to negotiate an agreement that meets the expectations of our members,” said RMT Secretary General Mick Lynch.