Train strike talks set up to avoid bank holiday action

Thousands of Network Rail workers voted for a 24-hour strike in a row over pay.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, including signallers and maintenance staff, will walk out from 5pm on Monday 25 May. They will also ban overtime for 48 hours on the bank holiday Monday and Tuesday.

The move follows a four-to-one vote to strike in a dispute over a wages as the union rejected a four-year deal offered by Network Rail that included a £500 lump sum in RPI inflation-linked pay rises.

The RMT claims the proposals fell “well short” what is required for the 16,000 strong work-force to maintain living standards, job security and working conditions.

‘Wholly inadequate’

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We have made it clear that as far as RMT Is concerned the one-off, non-consolidated, lump sum payment this year is wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under.”

Network Rail condemn the industrial action and claim they have “put a fair offer on the table”, however they are willing to avert a strike.

Mark Carne, our chief executive, said: â??This strike is deliberately timed to cause maximum disruption to (cont) http://t.co/ShIRRZOqTe

— Network Rail (@networkrail) May 15, 2015

Conciliation service Acas said in a statement that the chief executive of Network Rail contacted them to help resolve the dispute and reconvene talks with rail unions. Talks will now be held next week.

If the strike goes ahead it will be the first national strike since 1994 and poses as the first big industrial relations test for the Conservatives.

The last major strike to hit London caused travel chaos for passengers over Christmas.