One of the unions involved in the long-running railway dispute over pay, jobs and conditions has received formal offers from train companies.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) said that for the first time the offers cover management and control staff, as well as station staff and other grades within the rail industry.
The union’s executive committee will now consider the offers and consult representatives at train companies before deciding whether to put them to thousands of members at the companies in a vote.
The TSSA said the offers come after several rounds of talks with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on behalf of the train operating companies and include an improved pay deal over two years, commitments for no compulsory redundancies until the end of 2024, improved opportunities for redeployment, as well as full consultation over proposed reforms to ticket offices and any changes to terms and conditions.
The union is in the process of re-balloting members across 13 train companies for further industrial action. That ballot will continue during this period.
The train companies covered by the new offer are: Avanti West Coast, C2C, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Govia Thameslink Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains Limited, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Trans Pennine Express and West Midlands Trains.
TSSA organising director Luke Chester said: “The new offers from the train companies are a result of hard work by our negotiating teams and the strong commitment of members in this dispute.
“There has been progress on a number of fronts – on pay, job security and the future working conditions of many members. The offers also now cover all those involved in the dispute – which was a key point for the union.
“This has only happened through careful and detailed negotiations and shows the value of our collective action. We will now work with our reps to fully consider whether the terms being offered are fair, and good enough to put to members in a vote.
“In the meantime we will continue with our plans to ballot for further industrial action as the dispute remains live.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “This is a reasonable offer in challenging economic times that gives TSSA members a significant uplift over two years.
“The pay offer is weighted particularly for those on lower incomes while allowing the railway to innovate and adapt to new travel patterns. It also sets out more varied and rewarding roles and career paths.
“With taxpayers still making up the post-Covid revenue shortfall by injecting up to £175 million a month into the industry, we urge the TSSA to put this offer to its members.
“It is time to end this damaging dispute for the good of our people, our passengers and the long-term future of Britain’s railways.”
Published: 31/01/2023 by Radio NewsHub
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