The RMT union has rejected the employer's claim, making clear that the pay increase is not the result of any negotiated agreement.

Manchester Victoria Station RMT strike

RMT members employed by Carlisle Support Services, working on the Northern rail contract will continue their long-running dispute over pay by taking 48 hours strike action from Saturday 20 June.

The action follows Carlisle Support Services’ continued refusal to negotiate a proper pay settlement through collective bargaining. This is despite increasing demands on frontline staff, including gate line operatives and revenue officers.

Picket lines will take place at:

  • Saturday 20 June – Skipton Station, 8am-10am.
  • Saturday 20 June – Manchester Victoria Station, 11am-1pm.
  • Sunday 21 June – Manchester Victoria Station, 11am-1pm.

Carlisle Support Services has recently claimed that it has:

honoured our agreement to implement an annual pay uplift in line with the Living Wage increase.

The RMT union has rejected that claim, making clear that the increase is not the result of any negotiated agreement with the union but stems from the company’s commitment as an accredited Living Wage employer.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said:

Carlisle Support Services is attempting to present its Living Wage Foundation obligations as though they are the product of negotiations with RMT. That is simply not true.

The annual Living Wage uplift is a commitment Carlisle made when it chose to become a Living Wage employer. It is not a pay rise negotiated through collective bargaining and it does not resolve this dispute.

Our members working on the Northern contract perform vital frontline railway roles. They keep stations safe, assist passengers and protect railway revenue, all while facing increasing responsibilities and pressures on a daily basis.

These workers deserve a fair, negotiated pay settlement that reflects the value of the work they do. Instead, Carlisle has sought to rely on a minimum commitment it already had while refusing to engage meaningfully with the union on pay.

This dispute is about respect, recognition and fair reward for a workforce that plays a critical role on the railway.

The whole episode underlines why all outsourced rail workers should be taken in-house as part of the future of Great British Railways as soon as possible.

Featured image via the Canary

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