RMT union members vote to accept Network Rail pay offer

Members of the RMT union have voted to accept a pay offer from infrastructure owner Network Rail, ending one part of the disputes that have caused sweeping disruption on UK railways since last summer.

The union said 76 per cent of members voted to accept the proposal of a 9 per cent pay rise over two years, with more for lower-paid staff, tied to significant modernisation of working practices.

The vote ends the long-running industrial action against Network Rail, but the RMT is still in dispute with a group of train operating companies, with more strikes planned next week.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the action against train companies was “firmly on”, but that a deal was possible if companies “make the right offer”.