RMT pay deal could signal the end of train strikes
Rail staff voted by three to one in favour of accepting the offer of a 9% pay rise over two years, with the RMT saying that, as a result, it was ending its dispute with Network Rail.
In a turnout of nearly 90%, union members voted by 76% to 24% in favour of the pay rise.
The move should mean an end to the most disruptive of rail strikes, which have caused serious problems for the hospitality sector as a result of a loss of trade. Rail strikes have already happened on 16 and 18 March and those planned for 30 March and 1 April currently remain in place until a better deal is struck with train operating companies, which UKHospitality says could cost the hospitality sector as much as £600m in lost trade.
Responding to the news, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls says: “This is encouraging news for hospitality businesses, who may dare to hope that their role as collateral damage in this dispute could be coming to an end.
“There’s plenty still to be done, of course, with ongoing negotiations between other employee groups, but I hope that this agreement paves the way for rail and tube strikes to end completely.
“Venues across the country have so far incurred lost sales upwards of £3 billion and would have struggled immensely to deal with that level of ongoing disruption. I would encourage everyone involved to continue their urgent negotiations and bring to an end strikes that have heaped misery on businesses, consumers and workers for almost a year.”
