How union boss Mick Lynch could cost rail workers another £500

How union boss Mick Lynch could cost rail workers another £500 by prolonging strikes into April

He could lose his members £500 if he does not accept a pay deal by April
The RMT union boss rejected a 9 per cent pay offer for his members this month

Union baron Mick Lynch is set to lose thousands of his members another £500 if he does not accept a pay deal by April.

Internal industry negotiating documents suggest Mr Lynch was warned that 4,000 of his members will lose the sum if clinching a deal spills into next financial year because they will face a bigger tax bill.

The RMT rail union boss rejected a 9 per cent pay offer for his members this month. It is estimated that some workers have already lost as much £4,000 since June 2023, when the union started striking. The negotiating memo states: ‘There are around 4,000 employees who, with back pay and a two-year pay rise, would slip into the higher rate of tax and could therefore be liable to an additional tax bill of up to £500 if acceptance of an offer slipped into the 2023-24 tax year.’

A rail source said: ‘It’s shameful. It’s not exactly standing up for your members – many of whom have already lost thousands of pounds – is it?’ It is understood the issue would affect track maintenance workers and signallers for Network Rail.

Mr Lynch’s members have already lost thousands of pounds due to 16 national strikes since last summer. Workers lose a day’s salary when they walk out, and the RMT does not provide them with strike pay.

Last week the RMT announced a further wave of strikes after talks with the industry and the Government broke down.

The union said tens of thousands of workers will walk out on March 16, 18, 30 and April 1. On March 16 20,000 or so workers for Network Rail and another 20,000 for 14 train companies will strike.

Only staff for the train companies will walk out on March 18, 30 and April 1, meaning disruption will be less severe because Network Rail is responsible for signalling.

It will bring the RMT’s tally of national walkouts to 20 since June last year.

The union rejected a 9 per cent pay offer over two years, with 5 per cent paid for 2022 and 4 per cent for 2023. For the lowest paid it was worth 14 per cent.

The RMT was contacted for comment.

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