Train strikes: Rail workers accept pay deal to end long-running dispute
- Published
If you travel by train regularly, you might have experienced some problems due to rail strikes.
Passengers have faced cancellations and delays in the past 18 months due to a long-running series of strikes by rail workers over pay and working conditions.
However, members of the RMT union, Britain's largest railway workers' union, have now voted to accept a pay deal, ending their involvement in a long-running series of strikes.
However, train drivers represented by the union Aslef will still strike.
What's been announced?
Members of the RMT union agreed to an offer from 14 train companies, which included a backdated pay rise of 5% as well as guarantees about their job security.
The deal means RMT members will no longer be involved in industrial action until at least spring next year.
The RMT's agreement with train companies ends an 18-month row over pay and working conditions, but talks over future pay deals and working practices still remain.
The industrial action by both RMT and Aslef members have resulted in huge disruption on the railways across the country, with many trains being cancelled on strike days.
However, while RMT members, including workers such as train guards and signalling staff, will not strike in the coming months, train drivers represented by the union Aslef will still strike.
Aslef members are due to take part in a number of walkouts between 2 and 8 December, with different train companies affected on each day.
Drivers will also refuse to work any overtime from 1 to 9 December, which is also expected to cause disruption to train timetables.
Why have railway workers been on strike?
There have been many previous attempts to end the strikes and reach a deal, but despite lots of negotiations, the unions - who represent the workers and their rights - and the rail operators - the employers, had been unable to come to an agreement.
Unions said that any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living but the rail industry has been under pressure to save money after the coronavirus pandemic left a hole in its finances.
Bosses also said that reforms needed to be agreed to afford pay increases and modernise the railway.
