A second militant rail union has accepted inflation-busting pay hikes with ‘no strings’ attached.
RMT members on Wednesday backed a 4.5 per cent pay hike for Network Rail workers and increases at train operators of 4.75 per cent for last year and 4.5 per cent for 2024/25.
It comes after train drivers at the Aslef union were handed the same deal for last year and this year with no conditions attached such as mandatory Sunday working.
Tory critics attacked the deal, pointing out that they had provisionally agreed a 4 per cent hike with the RMT – with conditions attached – before the election was called.
The Tories’ transport spokesman Helen Whately said: ‘It is no surprise that this pay deal was voted through. It’s an inflation-busting pay rise with “no strings attached” for reforms or improvements to services for passengers. And it will do nothing to prevent strikes in future.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) union (seen striking in August 2022) have voted overwhelmingly to accept pay offers from train companies and Network Rail to put an end to two years of industrial action
RMT boss Mick Lynch vowed earlier this month that union barons would seize control of the economy now that their Labour ‘friends’ are in power
Unions have used the Labour conference to flex their muscles, including forcing a vote on Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured at Labour conference) plans to axe winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners
Members backed a one-year rise of 4.5 per cent at Network Rail and increases at train operators of 4.75 per cent for the last year and 4.5 per cent for 2024/25
‘The Government has failed to take responsibility – they don’t want to do the hard work of negotiating a fair, affordable settlement. Easier just to say yes to the unions and have taxpayers pick up the bill.’
It comes after the Mail revealed how RMT boss Mick Lynch vowed that union barons would seize control of the economy now that their Labour ‘friends’ are in power.
Mr Lynch told a fringe meeting on Monday at the party’s conference in Liverpool that the ‘prize’ union chiefs wanted was ‘the complete organisation of the UK economy by trade unions’.
The RMT and Aslef unions repeatedly poured misery on travellers by going on strike for two years from summer 2022.
The RMT pay deal is the latest in a string of inflation-busting pay hikes offered to public sector workers. While train drivers were handed 14.25 per cent over three years, junior doctors were given 22 per cent over two years.
The Government has offered most other public sector workers about 5.5 per cent.
