The TSSA at Network Rail reported that its members unanimously decided to accept the company’s salary offer.
Earlier this week, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association scheduled more strike action during the Christmas break.
Now that agreements regarding compensation, job security, and working conditions have been agreed to by 85% of members with a 70% turnout, there will at the very least be an immediate wage raise of 9–11%.
“The outcome is a fair wage settlement equivalent to at least a 9% raise for this year and next — at least an 11% increase for those on lower incomes — plus job security and the securing of our terms and conditions,” he said.
Although we are happy with the outcome, this could have and should have been done months ago.
“However, the agreement reached by Network Rail is substantially better than anything put out by the train operating firms, and there, our battle continues with members continuing to engage in strike action.
“If the Government and the train corporations have any sense, they will immediately cease impeding the perfectly sensible road to an agreement and return to the table with a better offer that satisfies our expectations,” the letter reads.
The TSSA claimed that the agreement approved by its members includes a provision prohibiting forced layoffs until January 31 2025 as well as a minimum pay increase of at least £1,750 or 5% (whichever is greater) retroactive to January 1, 2022, which the TSSA claimed is worth at least 7% to employees making less than £25,000.
From January 1, 2023, there will also be a 4% wage rise, no unforeseen changes to terms and conditions, increased perks, and improved work and leisure travel options.
According to two recent surveys, popular support for rail strikes has decreased from 43% in September to 30%. According to pollsters Ipsos MORI, strong resistance is increasing, rising from 31% in September to 36% now.
During this winter’s industrial action, Mr. Lynch declared a prohibition on overtime work, which is known to have angered several members since they lost a profitable alternative for recovering lost wages during strike days. This implies that up to £5,000 in wages might be lost by train staff.
According to union data acquired by the Telegraph, less than 10,000 out of 115,000 staff refused Network Rail’s offer of a 9% wage raise.
It came as confirmation that a ground handling strike at Heathrow airport would take place on Friday as a result of employees rejecting a salary offer.
400 Unite workers who are employed by Menzies will go on strike beginning at 4 a.m. for 72 hours.
After that, there will be another 72-hour strike that will start on December 29 and finish at 3:59 on January 1st.
The Department of Work and Pensions, courts, and driving examiners are among the other locations where strikes are occurring, according to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.
“This is a perfect instance of a company that can fully afford to provide employees a reasonable wage raise but has chosen not to,” said Unite national secretary Sharon Graham.
Menzies has to stop making excuses and provide a salary offer that satisfies the demands of our members.
Following Christmas, Menzies employees will cease working, which will coincide with a strike by Border Force employees.
Some of PCS’s DVSA members will participate in the strike from December 28 to December 31, while other members will strike from January 4 to January 10.
On December 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31, employees of Jobcentres in Doncaster will go on strike with employees of Jobcentres in Liverpool.
In a separate disagreement, 300 PCS members who work as court companions and legal advisors in 82 courts in England and Wales will go on a 12-day strike over the Christmas holiday.
In a separate dispute, 82 PCS members working for Hinduja Global Services in Liverpool under the Disclosure and Barring Service contract are again on strike till December 23.
“We’re delivering on our commitment to increase our action,” said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka. “We won’t stop until the Government stops expecting our hard-working members to get through the winter with only a 2% wage raise.”
“Ministers can modify their stance on in-work poverty if they can shift their attitude on wind farms and constructing homes because certain Tory backbenchers aren’t satisfied.”
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