Transport Secretary responds to RMT ballot result

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “This is welcome news for passengers and a significant step towards resolving industrial disputes on the railway, giving workers a pay rise before Christmas and a pathway to delivering long overdue reforms.

“It remains the case that the train drivers’ union ASLEF continue to block their members from having a say on the offer that would take train drivers’ median salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, 4-day week – ASLEF should follow the RMT’s lead and give their members a say.”

Background

• The overall funding envelope for the pay offer remains the same as the fair and reasonable offer proposed in February and will not cost taxpayers any additional money.
• This offer, which the government helped facilitate, will see the withdrawal of the RMT’s strike mandate, and will enable negotiations between train companies and the RMT on reforms early next year.
• The offer could provide an increase of around £1,000 in take home pay in the first year of the deal for an RMT member earning a salary of £31,000.
• As part of this offer, there will be no compulsory redundancies until 31 December 2024.
• ASLEF train drivers are on well above average salaries already. The median salary for train and tram drivers is currently around £60,000 for a 35-hour, 4-day week.