Chester rail workers are preparing for a 24-hour strike this week, in a fight over pay and conditions.
Employees from rail engineering company Alstom in Chester, who maintain and service the Class 175 stock on the Arriva Trains Wales franchise will strike for 24 hours from 7am on Thursday (December 10) and again on Friday December 11 until further notice.
During this time members will not work any overtime or any rest days.
Company rail union RMT has held meetings to negotiate an solution to the 2015 pay and conditions claim and union balloted members recorded a vote in favour of industrial action.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite the best efforts of RMT’s negotiating team to resolve this dispute Alstom have refused to listen and as a result of that the action goes ahead this week.
“Our members are rightly angry that they are still working two hours a week more than colleagues doing the same job on West Coast and are still being underpaid for the important work that they undertake.
“RMT expects rock solid support from our members for this action and the union remains available for talks.”
However, an Arriva Trains Wales spokesperson said: "We have been advised by our contractors that a contingency plan is in place and our services should not be affected."
