TSSA members accept Network Rail offer

TSSA members at Network Rail have voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer from the company in the national rail dispute over pay, job security and conditions. 85% of members voted yes on a 70% turnout.

The offer is worth a minimum 9-11% consolidated pay increase over the next fortnight, in addition to other financial rewards, job security to 2025 and guarantees on terms and conditions.

The vast majority – 85% - of those who voted out of 2,500 union members in General Grades, Bands 5-8 (and equivalent), and Controllers - made the decision in a referendum which closed earlier today.

Accept: 85%   

Reject: 15%

Turnout: 70%

The deal includes -

*A no compulsory redundancy agreement until 31 January 2025.

*A minimum pay uplift of at least £1,750 or a 5 per cent increase (whichever is greater) backdated to 1 January 2022 (an increase of over 5 per cent for anyone earning less than £35,000). This is worth at least 7% to staff earning £25,000 or less.

*A 4 per cent pay increase from 1 January 2023

*No unagreed changes to terms and conditions, plus more benefits.

TSSA Organising Director Luke Chester said: “This is a decisive result with our members roundly endorsing this offer. It’s great news and a great deal for our members in Network Rail. It just shows what can be done through negotiations when there’s a serious offer on the table.

“Let me be clear though – this has only come about because our members stood together taking strike action to get a fair settlement when the company had failed to listen. Their dogged determination and some hard negotiations won this improved offer.

“The result is fair pay settlement amounting to at least a 9 per cent increase for this year and next – at least 11 per cent for those on lower salaries, plus job security and the nailing down of our terms and conditions. This could and should have been done months ago, but we are pleased with the result.

“However, the deal in Network Rail is significantly better than anything which has been proposed by the train operating companies and our fight goes on there with members continuing to take industrial action.

“If the rail companies and the government have any sense, they will now stop blocking the perfectly reasonable pathway to a deal and come back to the table with an improved offer which meets our aspirations.”

The dispute remains unresolved with train operators.

ENDS

TSSA Network Rail members in managerial grades – Bands 1-4 – accepted an offer in August this year.

TSSA members in train operating companies are continuing to take strike action in search of an offer which resolves the dispute.

Notes - TSSA is an independent trade union for the transport and travel industries. We have thousands of members right across the UK and Ireland, working for the railways and associated companies, as well as ferries, bus services and the travel trade.