A track worker writes ...
RMT has accepted Network Rail's pay offer. It looks good on paper, but it's an award without a fight.
It's an inflation-proof settlement with the no redundancy clause extended for another two years (the duration of the deal).
It seems that the union has grabbed this with both hands as a way of avoiding a prolonged period of conflict with no confidence they would win. At work, people talk about Southern Rail as an example of a dispute that has dragged on.
We know that RPI is not our choice of price index: it underestimates our genuine cost of living. So this deal will deliver no increase in our standard of living, no betterment in our terms and conditions, an overdue increase in London living allowance, but no index-linking of these allowances.
The union's Executive accepted the offer without a referendum of members, perhaps assuming that we would not want to fight for more so it was not worth giving us the chance to. It's a missed chance to start a second front battling rail bosses alongside our workmates at Southern Rail (and elsewhere).
It's a result - but it's probably a no-score draw.
