Merseyrail: General Grades 2026 Pay further revised 24-month offer

Further to my previous email on Friday last week, which you can view by clicking here, I am now in a position to share with you the improved offer from the company as a result of the further pay talks held to resolve the dispute between the RMT and the company which enabled industrial action to be suspended last week.

The Revised pay offer

The current pay offer is as follows:

“7.25% settlement for a 24 month pay deal backdated to 25 January 2026. The next pay anniversary date is effective from 30 January 2028.

For the following roles, an increase of £1,250 or 7.25%, whichever is greater: Onboard Cleaners, Station Assistant's, Van Drivers, Apprentices

Sunday enhancement will increase on the following basis:

From fourth Sunday in January 2026 – 1.25%

From fourth Sunday in January 2027 – 1.33%

Commit to continue talks with Merseytravel from 2028 pay talks to look at how Sunday enhancement can increase to 1.5%.”

TSSA position

This is an improved offer compared with the one previously considered by members.

As members will recall, we held a ballot on the previous offer because it represented a significant change from the earlier 12‑month settlement, moving instead to a 24‑month deal. While the headline pay increase remains unchanged at 7.25%, the addition of the Sunday enhancements represents a meaningful improvement to the overall package.

Although TSSA's objective remains to secure a 1.5% Sunday enhancement, we believe the current proposal is likely to be the best achievable outcome before the next round of negotiations in 2028.

Members have already voted to accept pay offers in two separate referendums, and this revised offer builds on what was previously approved by adding the Sunday enhancement improvements. Having discussed the matter with your Company Council Representative, Sam Brick, we have jointly agreed to write to the company confirming TSSA's acceptance of the offer.

We believe this is the most appropriate course of action, as it reflects the views members have already expressed through previous ballots and avoids the need for a third referendum this year.

If you have any concerns about this approach, please contact Alan Valentine at valentinea@tssa.org.uk.