Rail staff strike threat over Christmas pay

Train

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is to ballot Northern Rail conductors for strike action in a dispute over Christmas pay.

The union says that Northern Rail, which runs trains in the North West, has failed to accept a “perfectly reasonable proposal” that the staff should be paid the “appropriate rate” for working the additional public holidays this festive season created as a result of Christmas falling on a weekend.

Ballot papers will be dispatched to RMT members on Tuesday 7 December 2010 and the ballot will close on Monday 20 December 2010.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “The spirit of old Scrooge is alive well at Northern Rail. Everyone in the country knows that Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December are classed as substitute Public Holidays and in negotiations with Northern Rail RMT has demanded that all conductors should receive double time for working on these dates. That is a very modest and reasonable recognition of Christmas Holiday working; however the company has rejected our proposals.

“As it stands, staff rostered to work those days will not receive any enhanced payments. This situation is wholly unacceptable. Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December are Public Holidays across the entire UK and the vast majority of employers recognise this. However Northern Rail is refusing to acknowledge this fact. It is ludicrous to think that the company believes that it can pick and choose which bank holidays it can honour.

“The ballot for strike action begins on the 7 December and closes on 20 December. I am calling on the company to do the decent thing, recognise the hard work of their staff this year that has generated hefty profits for Northern Rail and pay them accordingly over the coming festive period.”

A spokesperson for Northern Rail, said: ““Agreed terms and conditions are in place for all employees, including conductors, to cover Bank Holiday working and the RMT has acknowledged that this is the case. However, they are now asking for payment over and above this agreement.


“ Tens of thousands of customers use our services everyday and threatened action, if it takes place, will only serve to cause disruption and inconvenience to the very people we are here to serve.”