Rail workers have voted to accept pay offers by train companies and Network Rail, reducing the prospect of a repeat of the national strikes that have caused misery for passengers over the last two years.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) voted overwhelmingly to support the pay offers that will result in pay increases of more than 4%.
The RMT said the ballot result meant that the long-running national dispute was now over and the outcome reflected collective efforts to defend jobs and pay conditions from the attacks of private contractors and the previous Conservative government.
The RMT held more than 30 days of industrial action since June 2022 over a previous pay dispute with Network Rail and rail operators.
A deal was agreed in March last year with Network Rail, while its deal with operators was concluded in November last year.
The latest pay deal will lead to union members at Network Rail, who are largely maintenance staff and signallers, receiving a 4.5% increase this year. Almost 89% of those members who voted were in favour of the deal.
The agreement with operators, which covers train crew and ticket office staff, will lead to a 4.75% backdated increase on last year’s pay, with a 4.5% rise for the current financial year. The ballot featured 99% of voting members voting in favour of the deal.
In a statement, the RMT said: “We thank our members for their efforts during this long but successful campaign.
“Their resolve has been essential in navigating the challenges posed during negotiations and in particular the previous Tory government’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, alongside relentless attacks by sections of the media and the employers.
“RMT remains focused and committed to supporting public ownership as a path to building a stronger future for the rail industry for both workers and passengers.”
The transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said: “This is a necessary step towards fixing our railways and getting the country moving. It will ensure a more reliable service by helping to protect passengers from national strikes, and crucially, it clears the way for vital reform and modernising working practices to ensure a better performing railway for everyone.”
Last week, train drivers who are members of the Aslef union voted to back a pay deal.
The decision came after drivers had taken 18 days of strike action since July 2022, resulting in a near-complete shutdown of English lines and some cross-border services, as well as a run of overtime bans that caused widespread disruption.
Separately on Wednesday, train drivers in Scotland voted to accept the latest pay offer from ScotRail after weeks of reduced timetables. The Aslef union said nearly 75% of its members voted for the deal, under which it is understood all staff will get a 4.5% rise, backdated to April.
The publicly owned ScotRail has been running a temporary reduced timetable since early July as fewer drivers made themselves available for overtime or rest-day working, as is their contractual right. Members of the Unite and RMT unions have also voted to accept the Scotrail offer.
