RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – MERSEYRAIL (GENERAL GRADES)

Our Ref: BR2/0001/M(GG)

 

9 August 2024

 

 

Dear RMT Member

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2024 – MERSEYRAIL (GENERAL GRADES)

 

Negotiations have taken place between your union and Merseyrail over this year’s pay rise for those in the General Grades (i.e. non-drivers). 

 

At the conclusion of the talks, Merseyrail has tabled the following, which it has described as its “full and final offer”:

 

Either of:

 

A) One year offer of 4.6%, plus a fixed increase of £2,200 for those earning on or less than £25,000.

• Offer is February RPI reference point of 4.5% + 0.1%, equalling an offer 4.6%
• A fixed increase of £2,200 for those earning on or below £25,000, equalling a blended offer of 5.08%
• For Train Managers only – to pay the pay rise onto the 80% pensionable pay only to start to erode the 20% non-pensionable pay gap and continue to do so in future years
• For Train Managers only – a further commitment to explore with Merseytravel how to fund a complete erosion of the pensionable pay gap in future years
• No changes to any other terms and conditions

 

OR

 

B) One year offer of 4.6% pot for either (1) all of general grades or (2) specific roles within General Grades, plus a fixed increase of £2,200 for those earning on or less than £25,000.

• Offer is February RPI reference point of 4.5% + 0.1%, equalling an offer of a 4.6% pot
• A fixed increase of £2,200 for those earning on or below £25,000 (detailed above), equalling a blended offer of 5.08%
• For Train Managers only – to pay the pay rise onto the 80% pensionable pay only to start to erode the 20% non-pensionable pay gap and continue to do so in future years
• For Train Managers only – a further commitment to explore with Merseytravel how to fund a complete erosion of the pensionable pay gap in future years
• Using the 4.6% pot to fund permanent changes to Sunday working enhancements by the full grade or by role within the grade, detailed below:

 

Enhancement	Offer with Enhancement	Offer without enhancement	Notes
Time and a fifth on Sunday rate = 2%	2.6%	4.6%	4.6% payable to staff without enhancement, 2.6% payable with enhancement.
Time and a half on Sunday rate = 4.78%	0%	4.6%	0.18% would require funding in future years.

 

In presenting this offer to your union’s National Executive Committee, the Lead Officer reported that, throughout the discussions, your negotiating team had tried to resolve pay and outstanding anomalies with Merseyrail terms and conditions, highlighting the following 3 items.

 

1. Pay – no less than Train Driver who were awarded 5.4% from 21^st January 2024, no strings
2. 100% pensionable pay for Train manager grades – these currently only receive 80% pensionable pay, whereas all other grades are at 100% pensionable pay
3. Sunday Enhancements – A equitable arrangement whereby there is no disparity between grades currently Train Driver receive 150%, Train Managers have a temporary agreement for 120%, all other grades have 100% only

 

While Merseyrail recognise there are issues with the inequitably of pension and Sunday working enhancements, your negotiating team believe that both offers fall short of resolving members’ concerns. There is also the problem of an offer which is 0.8% lower on pay than the Tran Driver grade, which is not something that normally happens and is unacceptable.

 

For the above reasons, your Regional Organiser requested that a meeting be arranged involving your negotiators, your union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and national officials to discuss the offer and on the union’s strategy in the matter, which has been endorsed by the NEC.

 

This meeting is now being arranged and I will advise you of all developments which arise from the discussions. In the meantime, I trust this keeps you updated for now.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary