Striking Newport RMT signals workers, photo Socialist Party Wales

Striking Newport RMT signals workers, photo Socialist Party Wales   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Bob Severn

Network Rail workers in the RMT and TSSA transport unions are set to take the first national train network strike in two decades for 24 hours from 5pm on Monday 25 May.

Union members will also refuse to do overtime on 25 and 26 May.

In the dispute over pay and job security, RMT members voted by 80% for strike action on a 60% turnout, a result that would even pass the Tories’ proposed new anti-union strike balloting laws. TSSA members have voted by 53% for strike action on a 52% turnout.

A signal maintenance engineer in the RMT told the Socialist: “Twice now they’ve given us a ‘final offer’ – that was the end of their negotiations. So we had to get the ‘yes’ vote just to get Network Rail back to the table.

“The unconsolidated £500 for this year – which really is £300 in your bank account – doesn’t increase your pension. For the following years it’s only fixed to the RPI measure of inflation. It’s a four year deal but only a two-year non-compulsory redundancy agreement.

“Network Rail has said we’ve had good deals over the years. Well we’ve fought for those deals – they weren’t offered to us, they’re not that benevolent!

“Why should we take a step backwards because everyone else is taking a hit? We feel that we should be leading the way, not accepting austerity.”

Legal challenge

Network Rail has threatened a legal challenge to the TSSA ballot result at the same time as Acas negotiations.

In response, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is highly damaging that instead of focusing on the talks process Network Rail have opted instead to threaten a dash to the courts to challenge the democratic decision of rail worker members of one of our sister unions.

“RMT will not allow this legal manoeuvring to cloud the real issues in this dispute over jobs, safety and pay justice.”

National Rail made £1.2 billion profits last year.

Update 21.05.15: The strike has been suspended by both TSSA and RMT following a new offer from Network Rail