Network Rail workers vote to strike over pay row

The first countrywide strike on the railways for 20 years is looking more likely after Network Rail workers voted to take action over pay.

Workers voted 4-1 to go on strike after being balloted over what action to take over a pay row with their employers.

Network Rail accused the Rail, Maritime and Transport union of holding the country "to ransom".

Joel Hills, ITV News Business Editor, reports:

Network Rail's top boss has accused unions of holding the country to ransom and urged union leaders to "come back to the table for further discussions" over the current pay dispute.

Chief executive Mark Carne said: "The railways are a vital public service and industrial action would have a massive impact on millions of passengers, as well as freight distribution across Britain. It cannot be right that the unions can hold the country to ransom in this way."

"Our employees have received pay rises eight times higher than other public sector workers over the last four years and have now been offered a deal for the next four years that is unmatched elsewhere.

“Despite the very clear need to modernise our railways, we have offered a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for the next two years. The unions have also rejected a number of proposals that would boost productivity, removing our ability to offer them more."

Speaking after workers voted for strike action after rejecting a new pay package offered by the rail company, Carne pledged that he would do everything to "keep our railways moving during these times of uncertainty".

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said he wants to see Network Rail and the unions resume talks to try and resolve the current pay dispute and avoid strike action.

He said: "I condemn any industrial action that disrupts the travelling public. I want to see Network Rail and the unions back round the negotiating table, hammering out a deal.

"Rail passengers will not thank the unions for inflicting this unnecessary disruption."

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has said the decision by its members to strike after "decisively rejecting" a pay package offered by Network Rail was an indication of the "anger" felt by workers.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "This is a massive mandate for action and shows the anger of safety-critical staff across the rail network at attacks on their standards of living and their job security.

"It is now down to NR to start taking this issue seriously, to understand the deep-seated grievance felt by their staff and to come forward with a renewed offer which protects pay and jobs."

RMT union members backed walkouts by 4-1, on a turnout of 60%, in a sign of protest against a pay offer of £500 this year followed by rises matching RPI inflation over the next three years.

Network Rail workers have voted to strike over a pay row with their employers.

Workers voted 4-1 to go on strike, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union announced today.

In total 7695 of those balloted voted yes to being prepared to take strike action.