Rail users in and around Chester may experience disruption next week as members of a union stage a 48-hour walkout in a dispute over pay.
RMT drivers working for Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) will go on strike on Thursday and Friday (October 22 and 23), which looks set to disrupt services between Chester and Manchester, and Chester and North Wales.
RMT has accused ATW of 'dragging its heels' over a revised pay offer, but ATW says it was 'disappointed' with the decision.
Pay offer
At a meeting with the company, RMT says it was verbally advised that if it agreed to new productivity negotiations the company would consider revising the first-year element of their original pay offer.
RMT also claims since that meeting no formal offer has been received and, to force the company to take the matter seriously, the union’s executive committee has called on ATW train driver members to take action.
All affected members have been instructed not to book on for any shifts which start between 0.01am on Thursday and 11.59pm on Friday.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT is not prepared to tolerate Arriva Trains Wales’ delaying tactics any longer.
“Train drivers deserve a fair pay offer and real improvements in their working conditions.
“We have been left with no alternative than to call strike action to show the company that drivers will not be treated with contempt over such important issues as pay and terms and conditions.”
But Gareth Thomas, from Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We are obviously disappointed with the decision for proposed industrial action as we have been working constructively with the drivers’ unions ASLEF and RMT to bring to the table what we consider a generous and realistic pay deal.
“We will obviously continue to negotiate with the unions, seeking to resolve this as soon as possible.”
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