THE England-wide national rail dispute remains in a stalemate, with more strikes on the cards after RMT members voted to continue their industrial action.
Describing the ballot outcome as a “ringing endorsement of RMT’s approach to the dispute”, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said it means “we have industrial leverage to secure an improved offer from the Rail Delivery Group”.
As this issue of RAIL went to press, new strike dates had yet to be announced.
The union balloted 20,261 members in the 14 train operating companies (TOCs) controlled by the Department for Transport. Each achieved over the legal minimum of a 50% turnout required for industrial action (such as overtime bans) and over the 40% legal minimum need for strikes to be called.
The mandate lasts for six months, after which the RMT is required by law to hold a fresh ballot.
“The Government, which controls this dispute through a contractual mandate over the TOCs, must now allow the RDG to put forward a revised offer so we can work towards reaching a settlement,” said Lynch.
“However, if no new offer is forthcoming, we will once again take strike action in defence of our members’ livelihoods.”
The RDG’s offer, made on April 14, was rejected by the RMT without being put to a members’ vote. The RDG says its offer still stands, while the RMT maintains its position of not putting it to a members vote.
“We want to resolve this dispute and are acutely aware of the damaging impact it’s having on our passengers, our people and the many businesses up and down the country who rely on rail,” said the RDG in a short statement.
“We call on the RMT executive to bring an end to this dispute and put the deal, which offers job security guarantees and a pay rise of up to 13% to the lowest-paid workers, to its members so we can end the uncertainty and move forward with delivering a better railway for our custome
