The RMT has announced a further wave of strike action and action short of a strike in an on-going pay dispute on Heathrow Express.
Members will be on a 24 hour strike from 09:15 on 26th June 2011 through to 09:14 on 27th June.
In addition, there will be ‘action short of a strike with members refusing to work any overtime or work additional hours’ with effect from 09:15 on 25th June and 09:14 on 26th June. Also between 09:15 on 27th June and 09:14 on 28th June.
The action follows a rock solid 48 hour strike at the end of last month that ’caused massive disruption to services and the total closure of the Heathrow Connect service’.
Heathrow Express however, said they operated ‘exactly to the advertised amended timetable’ during the strikes.
RMT represents the vast majority of staff at Heathrow Express across all grades and they have given the union an ‘overwhelming mandate for strike action, on a huge turnout, in response to a company pay offer that falls well short of current RPI inflation and which is loaded with strings’.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:
“Instead of sticking their heads in the sand and publicly welcoming this dispute in a display of macho bravado it would make far more sense for Heathrow Express to sit down with us and work out a pay deal that fully rewards our members for their hard work which has generated company profits of over £6 million on a turnover of £60 million.
“The company knows it has tabled a completely unacceptable pay offer that is loaded with strings, yet despite a massive vote for action by our members and 48 hours of rock solid action it has made no attempt to negotiate or improve its position.
“RMT is ready to negotiate seriously to put in place a fair pay package that will take us through the Olympics period and recognises the contribution our members make to delivering a highly successful and profitable service, and we need the company to show the same commitment.”
