Net Rail 'pay deal' and the RMT

[LAX54]

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that Network Rail members in Operations, Maintenance, Customer Services and associated grades have voted overwhelmingly to reject what the company says is its final pay offer.

‎The offer has been rejected by a massive 93% on a 56% turn out.

Offer was for 2015 0%

 

[northwichcat]

0% offer to RMT members for the coming year. Now who wouldn't have a predicted them rejecting the offer?

 

[driver_m]

When even the govt says wages should be going up this year offering 0% is ridiculous.

 

[Tomnick]

Don't forget the tremendously generous offer of a £30 - or £10 through Tesco? - Railcard that's neither use nor ornament to most of us...!

 

[Flamingo]

Cue a thread full of "They are lucky they have a job at all" and "typical union, nothing is good enough for them" posts...

 

[northwichcat]

Cue a thread full of "They are lucky they have a job at all" and "typical union, nothing is good enough for them" posts...

What was Network Rail's profits for the most recent year compared to the number of employees?

 

[Minilad]

And I wonder if the higher ups will be getting 0%

 

[northwichcat]

And I wonder if the higher ups will be getting 0%

If newspaper reports are to believed at least one higher up person will be losing their job.

 

[Albatross]

Why have the made an offer of nothing?

Wouldn't it be better just to make no offer at all?

It's like some kind of comedy sketch, RMT should counter with their own offer "we wont accept a penny less than zero"

 

[Simon11]

If this is the 'final pay offer', what were they offering before? reduction in pay?

Or are NR also asking for a change in staff T&C?

 

[carriageline]

They offered us an "up to" 2% pay rise, but taking away a lot of T&Cs which add up to far more than 2% for quite some years!

The current offer is 0% this year, then RPI for the next 2-3 yeara

 

[LWB]

Why have the made an offer of nothing?

"

Perhaps the ONS figure for 0% inflation announced today (24/03/2015) may have some bearing?

 

[northwichcat]

Why have the made an offer of nothing?

The RMT's summary of the offer is:

• 2015 - A 0% increase in pay.
• 2016, 2017, 2018 - An RPI level of inflation increase in pay would be applied for each year.
• The “No Compulsory Redundancy” commitment would be extended until 31st December 2015.
• Network Rail will provide an annual National Rail Card giving a 33% reduction in off peak travel for employees, their friends and family

So I think that means this year they have a guarantee they'll keep their jobs but no pay rise. In future years there's a guarantee of a pay rise but no guarantee people won't be made redundant.

 

[WatcherZero]

Frankly the rail industry isnt immune to cost cutting of the wider economy, if they cant cut staff benefits then they will have to make the savings through lower wage rises. Remember ORR had required Network Rail to cut costs by a third last Control period and even further this control period.

 

[carriageline]

Frankly the rail industry isnt immune to cost cutting of the wider economy, if they cant cut staff benefits then they will have to make the savings through lower wage rises.

That is fair enough, but seeing as everyone else is getting (in my mind anyway) damn good rises, I can't see how it is any different.

 

[DarloRich]

Cue a thread full of "They are lucky they have a job at all" and "typical union, nothing is good enough for them" posts...

it wont take long

 

[LBSCR Times]

The pay rise has to be self-funding, ie; cuts somewhere.
Considering the amount of empire building in some departments, then no wonder it won't be self-funding.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Frankly the rail industry isnt immune to cost cutting of the wider economy, if they cant cut staff benefits then they will have to make the savings through lower wage rises. Remember ORR had required Network Rail to cut costs by a third last Control period and even further this control period.

And NR staff are on considerably higher salaries, along with T&C, than TOC staff.
But then, other than drivers, the unions pay lip service to TOC staff.

 

[21C101]

Presumably now that NR is nationalised they are subject to public sector pay policies imposed by the DfT

 

[DarloRich]

And NR staff are on considerably higher salaries, along with T&C, than TOC staff.
But then, other than drivers, the unions pay lip service to TOC staff.

Not the technical grades that this pay offer relates to

 

[Yew]

Didn't our illustrious premier say something along these lines recently?

Put simply - it's time Britain had a pay rise.

I'm sure they are looking forward to their lovely 0% rise, which, when RPI for CPI comes back up again, will probably equate to a real terms pay cut...

 

[infobleep]

That is fair enough, but seeing as everyone else is getting (in my mind anyway) damn good rises, I can't see how it is any different.

Who is everyone else? I don't see everyone around me getting massive pay rises. I know I'm not. Not that I'm complaining that I'm not.

 

[mtbox]

As a railwayman and ASLEF member myself, I fully support the RMT union and its members in any action they take over this disgusting PT of an "offer".

 

[ADRboy]

Outrageous 'offer' from NR to staff who knock their pan in day in and out for the most part.

Support whatever action they take 100%.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Not the technical grades that this pay offer relates to

Includes Operations grades though, and NR Controllers are on at least £5k a year more than their TOC counterparts.
And that is before the enhancements kick in.

 

[northwichcat]

Don't forget the tremendously generous offer of a £30 - or £10 through Tesco? - Railcard that's neither use nor ornament to most of us...!

Only available for £30 a year if you're 16-25 or over 60, otherwise you can't get one for yourself (unless you're disabled.)

 

[Llanigraham]

And NR staff are on considerably higher salaries, along with T&C, than TOC staff.
But then, other than drivers, the unions pay lip service to TOC staff.

Are we?
I'd like to know what you are comparing to say a Grade 2 Signaller on £25k?

 

[Tomnick]

Only available for £30 a year if you're 16-25 or over 60, otherwise you can't get one for yourself (unless you're disabled.)

That's my point - most of us won't benefit from that "offer" - it's a far cry from the straightforward 33% off all off-peak travel for all staff that it was painted as at first.

 

[185143]

They are lucky they have a job at all! Typical unions, nothing is good enough for them!

Sorry, couldn't resist it!

 

[First class]

That's my point - most of us won't benefit from that "offer" - it's a far cry from the straightforward 33% off all off-peak travel for all staff that it was painted as at first.

They were letting any Network Rail staff buy the 16-25 railcard, regardless of age.

They do the same thing for Accredited Travel Agents.

 

[Tomnick]

They were letting any Network Rail staff buy the 16-25 railcard, regardless of age.

They do the same thing for Accredited Travel Agents.

Really? If only they'd told us! Still, a railcard which we could buy ourselves for £30 is neither here nor there really, in the context of a pay deal.