PAY VICTORY AT SCOTRAIL

7 U p to 25 RMT Signallers and Electrical Control Operators picketed out Network Rail’s Thames Valley Signalling Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire in November in support of victimised RMT signallers and operations rep, Mick Knox. Despite atrocious weather, they were in great spirits with a marquee courtesy of construction workers at an adjacent site, a barbecue and England’s opening World Cup match against Iran on a picket line TV. Two 24-hour strikes by the Network Rail Operations staff caused massive cancellations of train services and engineering possessions across the Great Western mainline. They are currentlly being re-balloted. W orkers in ScotRail have won a significant victory in their fight for a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions. Following an industrial campaign which included two days of strikes, most Scotrail members have won a pay rise of between seven and nine per cent backdated to April, an extension of the no compulsory guarantee for six years and a series of payments to enhance the wage packet on a yearly basis. Members also won improved maternity payments and Sunday working benefits among other improvements. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was a fantastic victory for members at Scotrail and congratulated them on their strong stand, without which there would have been no deal reached. "The pay rise on top of further payments and improvements to working conditions will help with the cost-of-living crisis and ensure that the travelling public are not inconvenienced further. "This negotiated settlement shows what can be done when employers behave reasonably and are willing to do a deal,” he said. PAY VICTORY AT SCOTRAIL DIDCOT SOLIDARITY