An
RMT
ballot


of
its
members
at
14
train
operating
companies
in
England
has
resulted
in
a
substantial
majority
in
favour
of
continuing
strikes
in
the
dispute
over
pay.

Both
the
Rail
Delivery
Group
and
transport
secretary
Mark
Harper
say
the
result
is
‘disappointing’.

At
most
operators,
the
vote
approving
of
more
action
was
in
the
region
of
10
to
1,
according
to
information
provided
by
the
union.
A
total
of
13,091
‘yes’
votes
were
cast,
as
opposed
to
1256
who
said
‘no’,
amounting
to
a
vote
in
favour
of
91
per
cent.

The
turnout
was
almost
69
per
cent,
which
met
the
legal
requirement
for
a
turnout
of
at
least
50
per
cent,
and
the
vote
gives
the
RMT
the
right
to
call
more
strikes
until
November.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch,
who
is
already
calling
his
members
out
for
24
hours
on
13
May,
said:
‘It
is
clear
from
these
results
that
members
are
not
prepared
to
accept
a
pay
offer
based
on
mass
job
cuts
and
major
attacks
on
their
terms
and
conditions.

‘This
sends
a
clear
message
to
the
employers
that
the
huge
anger
amongst
rail
workers
is
very
real
and
they
need
to
recognise
that
fact,
face
reality
and
make
improved
proposals.

‘They
need
to
get
around
the
table
with
RMT
and
negotiate
in
good
faith
for
a
better
deal.’

Transport
secretary
Mark
Harper
responded:
‘Train
companies
put
forward
a
fair
and
reasonable
pay
offer
which
the
RMT’s
executive
have
refused
to
consult
their
members
on,
despite
members
working
for
Network
Rail
voting
overwhelmingly
to
accept
it
earlier
this
year.

‘The
Rail
Delivery
Group’s
best
and
final
offer
guarantees
employees
a
fair
and
reasonable
pay
rise,
while
delivering
the
reforms
needed
to
address
the
long-term
challenges
facing
the
industry.‘

The
RDG
added:
‘While
the
outcome
of
the
ballot
is
disappointing,
sadly
it
is
also
unsurprising
during
an
ongoing
dispute
such
as
this.
The
vote
that
really
matters
is
for
the
deal
on
the
table
developed
in
conjunction
with
RMT
negotiators
but
then
subsequently
rejected
out
of
hand
in
unflattering
terms
by
their
executive
committee,
without
giving
their
membership
a
single
chance
to
have
their
say.

‘The
RMT
membership
would
be
forgiven
for
wondering
why
they
are
only
ever
offered
a
vote
to
extend
this
dispute
and
a
never
vote
to
end
it.
We
can
only
assume
that
the
executive
committee
is
fixed
on
continuing
this
dispute
for
its
own
reasons,
despite
the
damage
is
causing
to
an
industry
still
being
subsidised
up
to
£175
million
a
month
extra.’