Train managers employed by Avanti West Coast have voted to accept a negotiated deal regarding a pay and rest day dispute, ending all future planned industrial action.
Train managers employed by Avanti West Coast have voted to accept a negotiated deal regarding a pay and rest day dispute, ending all future planned industrial action.
The agreement was secured after several days of strike action took place this year. It includes pay rates increasing to time plus a quarter, time plus a half for Saturdays and Sundays, and minimum shift payments rising from six hours to seven and a half hours.
It also includes a fairer order of call process that ensures train managers are prioritised for rest day and spare shifts before calling on senior management, and enhanced rest day working payments backdated to 10 February.
In addition, Avanti West Coast has committed to review the impact of the changes ahead of the December 2025 timetable and make improvements if needed.
A total of 90.4% of employees, who are members of National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), participated in the ballot, with 86.5% voting in favour.
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “We are pleased that our train managers have voted to accept our latest offer to resolve the dispute over rest day working. We’ve worked together to find a resolution that is right for our train managers as well as the organisation and are now looking forward to continuing to grow our business.
“This is a significant step in the right direction providing certainty for both employees and customers, as we head into what is traditionally one of our busier periods as leisure travel increases during the spring and summer. We would also like to thank our customers for their patience during this industrial action.”
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary at RMT, added: “Our members have stood firm, taking significant industrial action, and have won a deal that delivers real improvements to pay, and working conditions. This result shows through a strong industrial campaign and robust negotiation we can and do win improvements at work for our members.”
