The RMT union has rejected a 'dreadful' pay offer from rail operators, meaning that strike action will continue.

The union's general secretary, Mick Lynch, said that they, following consultation with their 40,000 rail members, message to reject the offers was 'loud and clear'.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "The RMT's rejection of these best and final offers is a kick in the teeth for passengers across the country and the RMT's own members, who having been ordered to take strike action are now being blocked from having a say on their own future. The RMT's leaders should have had the courage to allow their own members to have the chance to vote on their own pay and conditions, rather than making that decision for them behind closed doors.

"It is time for those union leaders to face the reality – our railways are currently not financially sustainable, reform is essential. I have played my part. I met union leaders. The Rail Minister and I facilitated regular meetings between all parties. We guaranteed fair and reasonable offers on pay and reform. It is now clear that no realistic offer is ever going to be good enough for the RMT leadership."

What offer has been made to the RMT by Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Network Rail (NR)?

•  An offer of a 9% pay increase over 2 years (5% backdated for 2022, paid in a lump sum, and 4% for 2023), with lower paid employees getting larger increases.
• This 'fair pay' offer balances the need to ensure pay restraint while costs are subsided by the taxpayer and looks to deliver efficiencies through savings and much needed reforms to modernise our railways.

The train operators' deal provides a significant uplift and an improved pay offer to workers at a time of great challenge for the rail sector. Crucially this deal targets the lowest paid, where a worker earning £20,000 could receive a £1,750 uplift in pay in year 1, which is an 8.8% increase. 

Similarly, the Network Rail offer provides a minimum uplift of a consolidated £1,750 or a 5% increase (whichever is greater) as well as £250 uplift to employees who currently earn £24,000 pa or less in base pay for 2021. The offer also includes several new benefits including discounted staff travel. Over the two years, this adds up to an increase of up to 14.4% for those on the lowest salaries.

These offers also include guarantees of no compulsory redundancies, providing job security and certainty to the rail workforce.

What reforms are included in the deal?

These pay deals will enable the delivery critical reforms essential for the long-term sustainability of our railways for the railway including:

• Ending reliance of voluntary overtime to run a reliable 7-day service 
• Use of part-time contracts and flexible working rosters and patterns to encourage a more diverse workforce who can fit shifts around other commitments 
• The creation of a new multi-skilled station worker role, with station staff trained and equipped to take on a range of responsibilities aimed at better meeting the needs of customers 
• Reduces the reliance on taxpayers to fund the railways and steps towards a more modern railway. 
• Vital reforms to Network Rail's maintenance function including new individual rostering to suit the 24/7 railway, joint and cooperative working and agreeing a set of mandatory overlapping skills for maintenance staff.

Network Rail management have accepted a 1 year, 4% pay deal.

Meanwhile, action remains ongoing for remaining staff, who fear job security and real term pay cuts, despite the 9% offer.