TUBE PAY WIN

RMT’s victory in the pay dispute with London Underground (LUL) has delivered increases of up to 10 per cent for our lower paid members and an average pay rise of seven per cent across all grades. This put massive pressure on Arriva Rail which runs London Overground services and on Transport for London which increased an imposed pay settlement for 2023 to broadly match the settlement on LUL for its 6,000 staff. The LUL settlement followed weeks of discussion on how to use £30 million of additional funding for the pay round, which was made available by the Mayor of London, in return for a suspension of strike action. In the run-up to strike action RMT pointed out that every member working for LUL generates £17,500 for the London economy based on what the Chambers of Commerce believe is lost as a result of strike action. RMT regional organiser Jared Wood said that the planned action showed that all grades play a critical role in keeping the tube going. “RMT members in control centre functions were first to take action, over the weekend on 6/7 January, followed by action on different days by service controllers and then the bulk of operational and engineering members “In the event the start of the action proved enough and the mayor made an offer to RMT of additional funding to reach an agreement on our pay. “The strategy of imposing five per cent, which was only accepted by one other union, backfired spectacularly and managers who had been told to insist that no more is available were suddenly instructed to re-open talks,” he said. The eventual agreement gives an additional flat-rate consolidated increase of £1,000 on top of the 5% that was imposed. In addition, lower paid members receive an additional £400 or £200 consolidated. LUL has also starting the process of restoring discounted travel on the mainline. The offer does however highlight a problem in the way LUL treats those members on banded pay. The bands were not increased by the full award. Further the increase to bands at the top was capped. This has the effect that a small number of members will receive the award as a non- consolidated payment. This is something the union will return to in the 2024 claim. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch congratulated members on LUL as the settlement was a huge achievement. “Increases average seven per cent across grades and achieving, for the first time in many years, a flat-rate element to the pay award that benefits the lowest paid most,” he said. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march/april 2024 :: RMTnews 5 RMT has won a significant pay rise for London Overground staff working for Arriva Rail London following the threat of strike action. Workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of accepting the latest offer in an e- referendum which means the dispute is now settled and all planned strike action has been cancelled. RMT members have won a 6.5 per cent uplift for last year on all pay and allowances or a minimum payment of £2,000 for anyone with a salary of under £30,000. They have also gained an uplift for this year on all pay and allowances of February RPI 2024 or a minimum payment of £1,750 for anyone with a salary of under £32,000. As well as an uplift next yearon all pay and allowances of February RPI 2025 or a minimum payment for anyone earning less than £33,750, which will be negotiated in February 2025 as inflation forecasts become more accurate. All payments are backdated to the relevant pay anniversary. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch congratulated London Overground members for showing such tremendous resolve in this dispute. “Strong organisation and the threat of strike action has once again yielded results,” he said. TUBE PAY WIN Union wins significant uplift for lowest paid and seven per cent across other grades LONDON OVERGROUND PAY WIN WIN: Engineering train drivers at Ruislip depot on January 6.