Amey rail workers to strike over pay

Union leader Bob Crow claims company withdrew interim pay offer

Workers at a leading rail contractor are to stage a 24-hour strike in a row over pay and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Amey will walk out for 24 hours at 2pm on Saturday.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow claimed the company had withdrawn an interim pay offer, adding: “Amey are a highly profitable and high profile company working on a range of key rail projects, including electrification, and yet here they are treating the staff that they rely on to deliver their contracts and generate their profits like dirt. This is an outfit which generated pre-tax profits of £87 million on its most recent accounts so with the boardroom awash with cash why should the workforce take a hit on their standard of living?”

He added: “Pulling the current offer, instead of getting round the table and negotiating a way forward in this dispute, is a confrontational and provocative act. RMT remains available for talks and the ball is now firmly in Amey's court.” The pay claim from RMT was submitted in April 2012, according to Crow.

An Amey spokesman said: “We aim to be an equitable employer and our focus is on achieving the long-term aims of the rail industry along with fair pay for our employees. Amey remains in negotiations with the RMT. As part of the negotiation process, we put forward an extremely competitive pay offer, which would be withdrawn if the RMT progressed strike action. Unfortunately, the RMT did progress strike action.”