Rail union RMT revealed today that it has secured pay increases of 3.5% for thousands of Network Rail maintenance staff, outstripping inflation and proving that fighting trade unionism can drive a coach and horses through government austerity and pay policies.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;

"This deal is one of the best collective pay settlements anywhere in industry and rams home the point that while we are being told we have to accept pay cuts and freezes RMT is still out there winning inflation beating rises"