RMT says planned strikes to go ahead despite suspension of Network Rail action

JESSICA FRANK-KEYES

THE RMT last night said that strikes will still go ahead next week despite rail union bosses asking them to reconsider after suspending planned industrial action at Network Rail.

The union said the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents operators, had invited it for discussions earlier yesterday on the condition the strikes were suspended. The RMT said the scheduled action will remain in play but the union was “available for discussions”.

It comes after the RMT on Tuesday suspended planned striked action by Network Rail members on 16 March and committed to balloting on “a new offer from the employer”.

A strike by RMT members at 14 operators is still scheduled to take place on March 16, 18 and 30 and April 1, and is expected to cause major disruption.

The RMT has been engaged in national rail strikes in a row over jobs, pay and conditions since June last year, decimating services.

An RDG spokesman yesterday said the ballot was a “welcome development” but added: “Instead of inflicting more lost pay on its members and disruption to our passengers, we are calling on the union to call off their strikes and meet us for urgent talks to resolve this dispute.”

The RDG said its offer includes pay rises of at least five per cent for 2022 and four per cent for this year, with a lump sum payment for last year’s increase. It added it was “not conditional on accepting Network Rail’s modernising maintenance agenda”.

The government and the rail industry insist reforms are needed to afford higher salaries as the sector’s finances have been hit by the drop in passengers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.