The RMT union on Friday rejected pay proposals by UK rail industry employers aimed at ending a wave of strikes, and warned industrial action could last until next winter.
The union rejected a pair of offers for a 9 per cent pay increase over two years, tied to major workplace reforms, from train operating companies and infrastructure operator Network Rail.
The RMT also unveiled plans to ballot union members for a new mandate to extend its industrial action for another six months when it runs out in May, but did not announce any new strike dates.
Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, is contending with the biggest series of strikes in the public and private sectors for decades, including nurses, teachers and postal staff, as workers demand higher pay amid the cost of living crisis.
The government had been hoping the rail dispute was close to resolution after sector employers put forward improved pay offers.
But RMT general secretary Mick Lynch on Friday said the offers were “dreadful” and called for new talks with employers.
“We have carried out an in-depth consultation of our 40,000 members and the message we have received loud and clear is to reject these dreadful offers,” he said.
The offers required the RMT to sign up to significant changes to working practices in exchange for pay rises, including wholesale reform of Network Rail’s maintenance operations and a commitment for train staff to work on Sundays.
The union said it was looking for an “unconditional pay offer”, an agreement on job security and “no detrimental changes being imposed on members terms, conditions and working practices”.
Employers and the government, which sets the rail industry’s finances, have said the pay proposals on the table were “final offers”, leaving the dispute at an impasse and passengers facing increasing uncertainty following more than seven months of strikes.
Industry bosses had been optimistic the RMT’s leadership would accept the offers, which were put together following months of negotiations punctuated by regular walkouts.
On Friday employers expressed frustration at the RMT’s refusal to put the offers to members in a union-wide ballot, but were encouraged by the fact that no new strikes were announced.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said passengers and “many” RMT members “will be deeply dismayed” by the decision not to put the proposals to a vote.
Mark Harper, transport secretary, described the RMT’s response as a “kick in the teeth” to passengers.
“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,” he said.
Some industry bosses and government officials have privately questioned whether union members will be willing to lose more pay if another round of strikes is called, and reported growing numbers of staff turning up to work during recent walkouts.
Lynch said the union had carried out an “extensive listening exercise”, including consulting “every level” of the RMT.
Many of the responses from its members were highly critical of the industry proposals, with several branches urging leaders to call more strikes immediately, according to an internal union communication seen by the Financial Times.
With the industry facing a £2bn-a-year annual shortfall in revenue following the rise in homeworking and a decline in commuter numbers, the RDG said the union “must now accept the urgent need to make the railway fit for the future”.
Train drivers’ union Aslef is also in dispute with the industry over pay and working practices. It held a new round of talks with train operators this week.