RMT members working on First Great Western to hold 24-hour strike

Members of the RMT working for sub-contractors Mitie on First Great Western will strike for 24 hours from Friday morning (11 October) in what the union has described as "a fight for a living wage and workplace justice".

The strike action follows a vote for action by members of the The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers which will see the sub-contracted cleaners walk out between 06:00 hours on Friday 11 October 2013 and 05:59 hours on Saturday 12 October 2013.

Earlier this year a claim for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service was submitted to the Company, according to the RMT. Following two meetings with Mitie, the offer which was received was a 2% increase effective from the April 2013 anniversary date, which the union argues is "effectively a pay cut when measured against the current real costs of living".

The RMT has argued for its members to be paid at least the living wage, citing the "significant profits First Great Western (FGW) and Mitie continue to make" as reason for rejecting the 2% offer. The union pay claim also included other elements such as increased sick pay in line with FGW rates, shift & weekend rates, overtime and bank holiday rates, travel facilities on FGW and an end to zero hour contracts but the RMT says these were all rejected by the Company.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Mitie RMT members on First Great Western have shown guts and determination throughout this long fight for workplace and pay justice and we expect strong support from across the labour movement as we move into this phase of industrial action. Be clear, this battle is about achieving a Living Wage and ending the scandal of zero hours contracts on a rail franchise which is multi-million pound money-spinner for the private companies bleeding it dry, while those doing the dirty jobs to keep the services clean are treated with pure and utter contempt.

“Only last week First landed a jackpot rollover with a two-year contract extension on Great Western that will make them and their sub-contractors a fortune. Justice says that now is the time for the cleaners out there day and night on First Great Western to get their fair share through a Living Wage, decent sick pay and benefits and an end to the evil of zero hours contracts.”