Network Rail's offer shows their contempt for you

Today Network Rail made a derisory and insulting “offer” to your representatives at a Bands 5-8 pay meeting. A planned pay meeting for Bands 1-4 pay talks was cancelled with just half an hour to spare. 

The offer Network Rail made failed to address any of your concerns. It fell far short of our expectations of a pay rise in line with the cost of living, offering a measly 2% increase in base salary, along with two, potential, one-off lump sums of 0.5% of base salary. 

It also came with unacceptable strings attached – including both the acceptance of the offer and the ending of our dispute by midday Saturday 18th June (tomorrow!) which would have allowed us no time to consult with your reps, or you. 

The offer was also conditional on “achievement of the milestones to deliver the productivity improvements required as part of Modernisation”. However, Network Rail gave no details either verbally or in writing as to what those “Milestones” are – effectively asking us to write them a blank cheque with your jobs! 

Additionally, the offer failed to give assurances around job security, or around protection of your existing terms and conditions. 

We believe that Network Rail knew that the offer made today would be unacceptable and that it was made in bad faith purely to allow Network Rail to claim that we had walked away from meaningful discussion. 

We have had no choice but to reject this offer on your behalf and our dispute continues. We remain as always open to genuine meaningful discussions with Network Rail but only if they are prepared to make realistic offers that address all the areas of our dispute. 

We are aware of the email that went out from Tim Shoveller today but clearly he was too embarrassed by Network Rail’s “offer” to describe it – he should be embarrassed, it was an insult to his staff and to your union. 

Your industrial action ballot papers will be sent out on Monday. It is essential that you vote YES to strike action and YES to action short of strike. NR are treating you with contempt making derisory and time-wasting offers in bad faith purely to score points with the media. 

It’s time to show them that you won’t be treated like this. You and your colleagues kept the country moving through the pandemic. You haven’t had a pay rise in years. 

Vote YES and tell your colleagues to do the same. 

If you have any concerns, please contact your TSSA reps in the first instance. You can contact our Helpdesk on 0800 328 2673 or helpdesk@tssa.org.uk
 
For information and updates on the dispute, please visit the hub on our website.

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