As a result of the RMT union’s latest series of strikes. Approximately half of Britain’s railway lines are closed and only one in five services are operating.
Network Rail’s senior negotiator informed that the firm is “on the right path” toward reaching a compensation settlement with its employees to end train strikes.
Today, the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union (RMT) launched a new round of strike action, causing further disruption for travelers.
As a result of two 48-hour walkouts by 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail. 14 train operators – the first of which began on Tuesday. The second of which will begin on Friday – about half of Britain’s railway lines were down. And only one in five services were running.
Numerous locations lack services, including the majority of Scotland and Wales. The Aslef union of drivers will go on strike on Thursday.
Votes from 2,000 individuals must be changed for the agreement to pass.
Network Rail operates the railway infrastructure in Britain
Tim Shoveller, the business’s senior negotiator, told that the corporation wants to “make clarifications” to the RMT about the offer. Its members rejected and hinted that it will be resubmitted and voted on again by members.
Mr. Shoveller stated, “We believe we are approximately 2,000 individuals short to secure the new deal. So we are on the right track.”
He stated, “We made substantial progress in September when we presented a revised offer that included 9% over two years. No mandatory layoffs until 2025, and a whole host of other things the unions had requested.
“Two of the three unions (Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association – TSSA) accepted that. And we know that a majority of our staff voted in favor of the agreement. Despite RMT’s recommendation that they not do so.”
He said, “There is a new contract available inside the maintenance organization with significantly higher compensation. Therefore some employees are hesitant to accept it since, for instance, it has different financial rates for overtime. It is rather complicated, therefore we believe that a clearer explanation, ideally with the RMT’s cooperation, would seal the deal.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper told that “there is a fair and reasonable salary offer on the table”. And that it is “very unhelpful” that RMT members have opted to continue strike action this week. Instead of engaging in further negotiations to resolve the dispute.
However, RMT leader Mick Lynch has criticized ministers, claiming that while he was available. And eager to negotiate over the holiday season, ministers were “enjoying the holidays.”
Mr. Lynch, the union’s general secretary, told, “We met with the railway secretary on the 15th of December, and we’d previously given notice of action, but they’ve done nothing since then, enjoying the holidays over Christmas.
“We were available to meet, but they were unwilling to do so. So they’ve waited until the strikes begin to make these statements, but if they’d wanted a settlement and to stop the strikes, they might have taken more action to get things moving.
Mr. Lynch stated that Mr. Harper bears “direct responsibility” for the December breakdown of negotiations with rail companies.
“We were discussing a potential settlement with the train-operating companies and working on documentation with them when the Department for Transport (DfT) – and he is the secretary of state – intervened and insisted that driver-only operation of trains, the removal of guards from every train in Britain, be included in the documents.
“I know he did it because others on the other side of the table have informed me that the DfT asked that it be included. Consequently, this precluded any progress on the matter.”
However, Mr. Harper denied that ministers participated in December rail strike negotiations to prevent a compromise, stating, “That is completely false.”
Two trade unions on Network Rail had accepted the “quite fair salary offer on the table,” and he asked the RMT union to “get off the picket line” and do the same.
