RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it has secured a £500 Olympics and Paralympics payment for Virgin Rail staff as part of a package which will also see wages and allowances rise by 4.6% or £950 (whichever is the greater) from April this year and a £500 flat rate payment for all staff covered by collective agreements for additional pressures on services throughout the Olympics period.

Staff will also get an extra days leave for the Queens Diamond jubilee.

The latest agreement comes on top of other Olympics reward and recognition deals agreed by RMT:

Network Rail - £500 flat rate London Overground - minimum of £600 guaranteed with more for the majority of staff Docklands Light Railway - £900 flat rate plus guaranteed overtime at enhanced rates making the deal worth around £2500

Negotiations with London Underground are continuing.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This is another deal that protects our members’ standards of living and rewards them for carrying the extra pressure of the Olympics.

“It is also another victory for RMT’s industrial campaigning and organising strategy which has delivered the goods for our members once again and is a tribute to the skill and experience of RMT’s negotiators.”