Rail workers represented by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have voted to accept a pay deal, ending long-running strike action.
Union members agreed to an offer from 14 train firms, which includes a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022-23 and job security guarantees. They will not be involved in industrial action until at least spring next year.
The agreement ends an 18-month dispute over pay, job security and conditions. However, talks regarding a pay rise for the current financial year, future pay deals and working practices are still ongoing.
Mick Lynch, general secretary at RMT, said: “Our members have spoken in huge numbers to accept this unconditional pay offer and no compulsory redundancies until the end of 2024. I want to congratulate them on their steadfastness in this long, industrial campaign.
“We will be negotiating further with the train operators over reforms they want to see. We will never shy away from vigorously defending our members’ terms and conditions, now or in the future. This campaign shows that sustained strike action and unity gets results and our members should be proud of the role they have played in securing this deal.”
Kate Palmer, HR advice and consultancy director at Peninsula, added: “This is welcome news for employers and employees alike who have faced significant disruption as a result of the strike action. But with a deal still yet to be reached with the train drivers’ union, it’s not the end of all industrial action. Employers should still work with employees who rely on the trains to get to work on remaining strike days. Options might include allowing affected staff to work from home, amend their start and finish times, or change the days that they work.”
Train drivers represented by the union Aslef will still strike between 2 and 8 December and refuse to work any overtime from 1 to 9 December, with different train networks affected on each day.