Heathrow Express strike on as pay offer rejected by 12 to 1 margin
RMT: September 19 2006
MORE THAN 70 members of Britain’s biggest rail union at Heathrow Express will strike on Thursday (September 21) after rejecting the company’s “rehashed” pay and conditions offer by a margin of more than 12 to one.
RMT members will not book on for shifts that commence between a minute after midnight and 23:59 on Thursday. Similar action is also scheduled for the following Monday, September 25
"Our members have again decisively rejected the company's rehashed three-year offer," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"We have made it clear to Heathrow Express that we are available for talks to resolve this dispute, but our referendum result should tell the company exactly where our members stand.
"The problem remains that Heathrow Express is still expecting our members to pay for a shorter working week with shorter breaks and a squeeze on other conditions.
"They have also been angered by the company's attempt to to dress up the non-consolidated lump sum they are offering instead of the back-pay we are entitled to as some sort of concession, and that will not wash.
"We remain available to negotiate, but the company will not resolve this dispute by burying their heads in the sand," Bob Crow said.