The Rail Delivery Group has welcomed the announcement that the TSSA is to put the latest pay offer to its members, by holding a ballot.

The union said: ‘We have fought for months on pay, job security and conditions in the face of a cost of living crisis and intransigence from government ministers.

‘What is on the table now is a result of careful negotiations and the commitment of our members in their determination to demonstrate our collective industrial strength.

’Though the offers represent progress on a number of fronts we will continue to ballot for further industrial action as the dispute remains live.’

The Rail Delivery Group responded that the union’s decision was ‘encouraging’. It continued: ‘We hope that our TSSA colleagues will consider carefully, vote for the deal and end this dispute.

‘We listened to the union’s concerns in response to our initial offer and we have addressed them – including increasing our offer on pay. If they vote yes, TSSA members’ pay will increase by at least 9 per cent over two years – rising to 13 per cent for the lowest paid.

‘Having negotiated at length with the TSSA to agree this best and final offer, we hope that our colleagues look carefully at what is on the table and work with us to bring an end to this dispute. We can then work together to secure a thriving long-term future for a railway we can all be proud of.’

Meanwhile, members of the RMT are set to walk out again on three days in March, and also on 1 April.

The RMT rejected offers from the employers earlier this month, saying ‘they did not meet the needs of members on pay, job security or working conditions’.