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Tuesday 24 May 2022

‘Talk, not walk’ says Network Rail in response to RMT vote for industrial action

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National

Responding to the RMT’s announcement that its members have voted in favour of industrial action, Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said:

“The RMT has jumped the gun here as everyone loses if there’s a strike. We know our people are concerned about job security and pay. As a public body we have been working on offering a pay increase that taxpayers can afford, and we continue to discuss this with our trades unions. We urge the RMT to sit down with us and continue to talk, not walk, so that we can find a compromise and avoid damaging industrial action.

“We are at a key point in the railway’s recovery from the pandemic. The taxpayer has provided the industry with £16bn worth of additional life support over the last two years and that cannot continue. Travel habits have changed forever and the railway has to change as well to adapt to this new reality. We believe that by modernising – creating safer jobs for our people and operating the railway more efficiently – we can build a sustainable future with a railway that delivers for passengers and taxpayers.

“Any industrial action now would be disastrous for our industry’s recovery and would hugely impact vital supply and freight chains. It would also serve to undermine our collective ability to afford the pay increases we want to make.”

Notes to editors

Cost of industrial action

• If it goes ahead, strike action would cost Network Rail around £30m each day, undermining our ability to afford pay increases.

Modernisation

• The rail industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger numbers have recovered somewhat, but are still only at 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Demand and travel habits have changed – particularly in the commuter market – and so we have to change too.
• The Government has subsidised the rail industry to the tune of £16bn since the start of the pandemic to keep services running without furloughing a single worker. This is an average of £575 per household, and is clearly not sustainable, especially when other vital services, like the NHS, need public support.
• It is therefore vital that we work with train operators and our trades unions to save millions of pounds and deliver a more efficient railway.

Safety

• Britain’s railway is the safest major network in Europe and we would never consider any changes that would make the railway or our people less safe. Any changes we propose would first need to be scrutinised and approved by the ORR.
• We have not tabled any formal proposals yet. We are discussing ideas and would welcome constructive dialogue with our unions as we develop formal plans.