Network Rail workers plan new strikes for June

Network Rail workers are due to go on strike twice in June after a recent pay offer was rejected by the union.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced rail workers will be on strike from 17:00 on Tuesday 9 June to 16:59 on Thursday 11 June and from 00:01 Saturday 6 June to 23:59 on Friday 12 June.

Last week, the union suspended a strike at the last minute, which was planned for the Bank Holiday.

Workers have now rejected Network Rail's second pay proposal. Network Rail firstly offered a four-year deal of a single £500 payment and three years of pay rises linked to RPI inflation.

The second offer was for two years, with a 1% rise this year and a rise of 1.4% next year.

The union said what the company's offer is "wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under to keep services running safely at a time when the company is generating profits of £1bn".

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our representatives have today rejected the pay package offered by Network Rail and in the absence of any further movement from the company that has left us with no option but to move to a rolling programme of industrial action which will begin next Thursday."

Cash explained: "With no shortage of cash in the bonus pot and to compensate the private train companies it is no wonder that our members take the view that 1% is wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under to keep services running safely at a time when the company is generating profits of £1bn."