The
Rail
Delivery
Group


has
invited
the
RMT
to
fresh
talks
today,
following
the
announcement
that
strikes
at
Network
Rail
had
suspended
following
a
new
pay
offer.

The
terms
of
the
offer
have
now
been
published
by
the
union.

Network
Rail
is
offering
a
salary
rise
of
between
14.4
per
cent
for
the
lowest
paid
grades
to
9.2
per
cent
for
the
highest,
plus
an
additional
1.1
per
cent
on
basic
earnings
and
increased
back
pay,
which
will
be
paid
as
a
lump
sum.
It
does
not
depend
on
any
changes
to
working
practices.

Meanwhile,
the
RDG
invited
the
RMT
to
new
talks
today
on
condition
that
strikes
at
train
operators
next
week
are
cancelled,
but
the
union
has
declined
to
do
this.

Last
night,
the
RDG
said:
‘We
have
invited
the
RMT
leadership
to
meet
tomorrow
for
further
talks
and
have
made
clear
we
are
always
open
to
dialogue.
However
we
have
also
made
clear
to
that
meaningful
progress
can
only
be
made
if
they
remove
the
threat
of
strikes
hanging
over
our
passengers
before
it
is
too
late
to
avoid
disruption.
We
urge
the
RMT
leadership
to
engage
with
us
in
good
faith
and
resolve
this
dispute.’

As
things
stand
the
RMT
is
still
set
to
stage
walkouts
at
14
English
train
operators
on
16,
18
and
30
March,
and
also
on
1
April.