Thursday 23 June 2022 10:54 PM Rail boss threatens to go straight to staff and cut union barons out of pay ... trends now
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A rail boss yesterday threatened to cut union barons out of pay talks and go straight to staff in a bid to push through a deal.
Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, made the explosive warning after talks with the RMT broke down.
He admitted the move could further escalate tensions but said ‘something will have to give’ if talks remain deadlocked.
Leaders of the hard-Left union have so far refused to put a formal pay rise offer of at least 3 per cent – the same as NHS staff were given last year – to their members.
Informally, the union’s leaders have been told the rise can be even more if they accept further modernisation of working practices.
It comes as talks between RMT and Network Rail negotiators stalled yesterday, with the union saying tomorrow’s third 24-hour strike this week would go ahead. RMT boss Mick Lynch is pictured above
Mr Haines said he believes the 20,000 or so RMT workers for Network Rail would likely clinch the deal if given the opportunity.
He told the Daily Mail that the state-owned company, responsible for signalling and track maintenance, would have to consider a company referendum if the talks remain deadlocked. It is hoped the move would heap pressure on the RMT to accept a deal if a majority of workers voted for it.
He said: ‘At the moment we’ve not been able to
