Rail strikes planned for March and April called off

Planned railway strikes in March and April have been called off following a breakthrough.

Union members across 14 railway operators were set to walk out on March 30 and April 1.

But the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) suspended the job action following a breakthrough in the long-running dispute over pay.

The union said: ‘Following further talks between RMT and the Rail Delivery Group today, a proposal was tabled by the RDG which could lead to a resolution to resolve the current national rail dispute through a new offer.

‘The (National Executive Committee) has therefore suspended strike action scheduled for March 30 and April 1.

‘RMT will have further talks with the RDG with a view to securing a new offer on pay, job security and working conditions.’

‘The dispute remains on and the union will continue to make preparations for a re-ballot when the current mandate runs out in mid-May.’

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents transit companies, said it is now focused ‘on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute’.

‘Which will mean we can do what we have always wanted to do – give our people a pay rise and help secure the long-term future of the railway with rewarding careers for all those who work on it,’ it added.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: ‘This marks a positive step and takes us closer to resolving this dispute.

‘After Network Rail employees overwhelmingly voted to accept a similar pay offer earlier this week, we’re once again asking the RMT executive to do the right thing and put this fair and reasonable offer to its members, giving them the pay rise they deserve and helping us end this dispute.’

The breakthrough comes after 200,000 RMT members at Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure in the UK, accepted a new pay deal.

The RMT has been at loggerheads with the Government and transit companies for nearly a year over wage disparities, slow salary growth, pensions and buckling infrastructure.

Staff will see a long-sought salary uplift amid the cost-of-living crisis that has seen food, fuel and other basic necessities shoot up in price.

Inflation rose to 10.4% in February, defying experts’ predictions that consumer prices would steadily fall.

Network Rail workers on the lowest-paid grade will have an uplift of 14.4% while the highest-paid will see a 9.2% rise.

It also includes a total uplift in basic earnings between 15.2% for the lowest-paid grades to 10.3% for the highest-paid grades.

There will also be increased backpay, and there will be a renewal of the no compulsory redundancy agreement until January 2025..

RMT leader Mick Lynch said when he first joined the negotiation table with Network Rail last year, a 3% deal was the best workers could hope for.

‘However, since then strike action and the inspiring solidarity and determination of members has secured new money and a new offer which has been clearly accepted by our members and that dispute is now over,’ he said.

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