Monday 31st January 2011, 11:00am
Talks are ongoing this morning between our representatives and management of Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) in a effort to avoid strike action this coming Friday the 4th of February.
It's important to highlight some important points regarding the proposed action and the events around it: -
- The "claimed" 12% pay rise being touted by ATW is very misleading to both our members and the travelling public alike. The reality is that the "clean" element of the pay rise is 3.7% in year 1 and 4% (or RPI) in year 2 . With RPI (the accepted guide to how much the cost of living is rising) running close to 5% (and the Governor of the Bank Of England forecasting a rise in the base rates which will make the cost of living spiral even further) this amounts to a de facto pay cut. The remainder of the deal comes with a plethora of strings attached including a commitment to work overtime on Sundays.
- We were very dismayed to learn that ATW are considering legal action against our members' democratic right to take strike action when our Union have always remained available for talks on the matter. Disputes should be settled by negotiation and ATW would do better to put their efforts into settling this dispute with us directly rather than " sabre rattling " with threats of legal action which will serve only to strengthen our members' resolve.
- Strike action is not a decision that our members (via a ballot) or our Union take lightly. Losing a day's pay can be ill-afforded by anyone and is always a last resort.
- Our members in ALL grades employed by ATW have, though their commitment and loyalty, have helped to deliver year-on-year profits for ATW and dividends for their shareholders. Our members have also help to make ATW one of the best performing TOCs in the UK, and now is the time for ATW to repay the efforts and loyalty of ALL the staff that work for them.
