RMT union bosses demanded pay will increase of 7 per cent from rail companies whereas offering their own staff an increase that was simply half that, The Telegraph can reveal.
They obtained pay will increase of simply 3.6 per cent to their fundamental wage, regardless of normal secretary Mick Lynch arguing that solely a 7 per cent rise for his members would sustain with inflation.
The particulars had been revealed in paperwork printed after the union’s annual assembly final July, held only a fortnight after Mr Lynch had demanded almost twice that from rail chiefs. Since then, the union has been in a long-running dispute over pay.
It introduced final week that it will strike on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest closing, which is able to happen in Liverpool, after rejecting a deal from the Rail Delivery Group that might have secured them a 5 per cent rise this 12 months for all staff, and 4 per cent subsequent 12 months.
Mr Lynch mentioned that the Rail Delivery Group had reneged on their preliminary settlement and referred to the 4 per cent enhance as a “very poor pay rise”.
However, the Telegraph can now reveal that staff on the union obtained a good smaller pay rise final 12 months. One RMT staff member mentioned that they had been shocked by the provide and the union ought to “practise what they preach”.
They mentioned: “How can they place demands for double the amount they are giving to their own?”
The RMT mentioned that the pay settlement displays the truth that the union is a membership organisation that exists on the idea of member contributions. Membership charges had been frozen just lately as a result of many members had not obtained a pay rise in three years.
It added: “The pay agreement reflected the nature of our organisation and the solidarity between our members, officers and staff.”
The 104-page Agenda and Decisions doc for the assembly additionally revealed points inside the union, together with issues by black and ethnic minority members about their remedy.
Race equality points
In a decision from the union’s National Black and Ethnic Minority group, it mentioned that for a progressive union, it had extra to do to enhance race equality. It mentioned that nationwide govt members and officers had overtly discredited campaigns and actions on social media, whereas victims of racist abuse within the union felt there was no recourse to justice.
It put ahead a movement suggesting the union perform an neutral investigation into the race subject however this was voted towards on the assembly.
Elsewhere, the union’s Coventry department put ahead a movement that known as on the union to offer political and materials help for Jeremy Corbyn if he determined to face as an unbiased MP within the subsequent election.
The decision, which got here earlier than Mr Corbyn was banned from standing as a Labour MP, mentioned the occasion now not supplied employees “a socialist alternative to the chaos and misery of capitalism”.
It added: “Labour councillors are largely indistinguishable from Tories where Labour is in power.” The decision was not adopted by the union.
An RMT spokesman mentioned: “Our union constantly strives for greater equality in our society, in the workplace and in our union.”
