RAIL users in Cheshire will not face strike disruption on Northern services after union bosses agreed a new pay offer.

Members of the RMT union had been balloting on possible strike action over an ‘unacceptable’ pay offer by Arriva Rail North, which operates the Northern franchise.

RMT announced on Tuesday, January 17, that it had secured a fresh pay offer from Arriva for its staff, ending this month’s strike vote.

Mick Cash, general secretary at RMT, said: “This revised offer represents a major breakthrough for the unions and has been secured through the hard work of our negotiators, backed up by the determination and solidarity of our members, who have made it quite clear that they were prepared to stand up and fight for a fair deal.

“The fact that the deal lifts the basic pay levels of those on the lowest grades is also a significant victory and is a model for the industry at a time when the drive is to hammer down on these key members of the rail team.”

RMT will now hold a referendum to accept the new pay offer.

Full details of the pay offer can be found at rmt.org.uk