UK Rail Union Welcomes Wage Rise

Thousands of UK rail infrastructure workers are to get a 4.8 percent pay rise, a move welcomed today by Britain's largest rail union.

Rail maintenance company Network Rail announced the rise, which is based on today's RPI figure of 4.3 percent plus 0.5 percent, adding to the 5.35 percent increase negotiated with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) last spring.

The rise will come into effect from 1 January 2008.

In a statement, the RMT said the rise sets "the bench-mark for the rest of the industry".

By staff writer