New rail strike called for 27th July in a row over ‘nothing’ pay offer | Business news

Workers at rail operators and Network Rail will strike for 24 hours on July 27 in a pay dispute, the RMT union has announced.

The news comes after the union rejected a pay offer from Network Rail which it described as “miserable” and after three rail strikes last month which crippled services across the country.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The offer from Network Rail represents a real pay cut for our members and the paltry sum depends on RMT members agreeing to drastic changes to their working lives.

“We have made progress on compulsory redundancies but Network Rail is still seeking to make our members poorer when we have earned in some cases double what they are offering with other rail operators.

“The train operating companies remain stubborn and refuse to make any new proposal which deals with job security and pay.

“Strike action is the only course open to us to get both the rail industry and the government to understand that this dispute will continue for as long as necessary until we reach a negotiated settlement.”

Mr Lynch said Network Rail members would strike from 2am on July 27 for 24 hours and members of train operating companies would take action from just after midnight until 11.59pm on the same day.

July 27 is the day before the Commonwealth Games begin in Birmingham.

The offer from Network Rail included a 4% pay rise backdated to January, a further 2% next year and a further 2% subject to achieving “final stages of modernisation”.

Sky News understands there were more offers for those who paid under £30,000, along with all members being offered travel discounts for themselves and their families and bonuses.

But the RMT said it had yet to receive a pay offer or job loss guarantees from the train operating companies, adding it would consult with other unions that voted for strike action, with the possibility of a coordinated walkout.

They may include members of the drivers’ union Aslef and the Transport Staff Association (TSSA), both of which have backed strike action in recent days.