RMT Union Rail Strike

The RMT union has suspended all industrial action at Network Rail after receiving a new pay offer. Members at the organisation, which employs maintenance workers and signallers, were due to walk out on 16 March alongside train company staff. If workers employed by train companies do take part in strikes from 16 March, there will still be disruption.

But the impact is likely to be less extensive than if Network Rail were also on strike. The RMT National Executive Committee has taken the decision to suspend all industrial action on Network Rail following receipt of a new offer from the employer. Further updates will be given on all aspects of the national rail dispute in the coming days.

Network Rail is relieved for its people, passengers, and freight customers that industrial action in Network Rail has now been suspended. Network Rail looks forward to further information on plans for a referendum. Train companies say national talks may not continue unless pay offer put to union members.

Rail operators have issued a fresh ultimatum to union leader Mick Lynch as commuters face renewed rail strike misery.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies in the ongoing talks over pay and conditions, has told the RMT union that national level talks may not resume unless its best and final offer was put to union members. The ultimatum comes ahead of a national rail strike next Thursday, 16 March. Walkouts across 14 rail operating companies, affecting Southeastern, Southern, and Thameslink among others, are also due to take place on Saturday 18 March 18, 30 March, and 1 April.

RMT’s ruling body rejected the industry body’s offer last month and insisted it wanted any pay offers to be unconditional. Both industry bodies and the Government have said pay increases would need to be paid for by reforms. RMT union has suspended Network Rail strikes due to take place in March and April.

Network Rail made new pay offer which union members will hold referendum on. The Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers’ union (RMT) has suspended all industrial action on Network Rail after they received a new pay offer. The next strike action was due to begin at 2am on 16 March and last until 1.59am the next day with a ban on overtime set to follow.

RMT had taken the decision to suspend all upcoming action and that further updates will be given on all aspects of the national rail dispute in the coming days.

There is no change to planned strike action to be taken by RMT at 14 train operators represented by the Rail Delivery Group on 16, 18, and 30 March and on 1 April. The new offer from Network Rail will put pressure on RDG to make a new offer. Members of RMT will take part on a referendum on whether to accept the latest offer from Network Rail.

It is not yet known if the executive committee and union boss Mick Lynch will recommend taking the new deal. The offer presented to the RMT union is also not currently known, but an update will be made at a later date. RMT members who work for Network rail have jobs in maintenance and signalling.

Members of the RMT have been taking part in walkouts for months in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs, and conditions. Strikes had been thought to continue possibly until the Autumn after the biggest rail union rejected final pay offers in February. Last month the offers of up to nine per cent over two years from Network Rail and the train companies were dreadful and did not meet expectations on pay, job security, or working conditions.

In February, RMT will take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months as employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the Government to offer a new deal.

The RMT was looking to renew its mandate to strike in May, potentially giving it the right to cause chaos for commuters and families until November. The move could put summer holidays at risk and further hit the British economy.