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| Network Rail workers to go on strike in June | Network Rail workers to go on strike in June |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RMT union members at Network Rail are to go on strike next month after rejecting a pay offer. | RMT union members at Network Rail are to go on strike next month after rejecting a pay offer. |
| They will hold a 24-hour strike from 17:00 BST on 4 June and a 48-hour strike from 17:00 BST on 9 June. | They will hold a 24-hour strike from 17:00 BST on 4 June and a 48-hour strike from 17:00 BST on 9 June. |
| Staff had been due to walk out last week in the row over pay, but the union's executive suspended the action when Network Rail offered a new deal. | |
| Union reps met on Thursday to discuss the offer but it was rejected, leading to the announcement of fresh strikes. | |
| 'Massive pressures' | |
| Mick Cash, general secretary of the rail union, said they had been left with "no option" but to start the industrial action. | |
| He said: "Our rail staff deserve a fair reward for the high-pressure, safety-critical work that they undertake day and night and the last thing that we need is a demoralised, burnt-out workforce living in fear for their livelihoods and their futures and the message has come back loud and clear that that is exactly how they feel about the current offer from Network Rail." | |
| Mr Cash said there was a "massive mandate" for the strike, showing the "anger of safety-critical staff across the rail network at attacks on their standards of living". | |
| Network Rail originally offered a four-year deal of a single £500 payment followed by three years of rises in line with RPI inflation. | |
| The new offer was for two years, with a 1% rise this year and a rise of about 1.4% next year. There would be no compulsory redundancies for the duration of the agreement. | |
| The RMT claimed each day of the strike would lead to Network Rail paying compensation of £30m to train companies. | |
| Mr Cash added: "With no shortage of cash in the bonus pot and to compensate the private train companies, it is no wonder that our members take the view that 1% is wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under to keep services running safely at a time when the company is generating profits of £1bn. | |
| "It is our members battling to keep Britain moving around the clock, often in appalling conditions, and they deserve a fair share from Network Rail for their incredible efforts." | |
| He said RMT would remain "available for talks", calling for Network Rail to improve their offer. |