Workers at rail engineering Faiveley Transport Birkenhead Limited are preparing to ballot for strike action in a dispute over pay.

Pay dispute

The dispute involves 47 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, who have rejected a two per cent increase which comes with strings attached linked to unachievable targets. 

According to Unite, with the RPI inflation rate currently at 4.8 per cent the offer to Faiveley workers amounts to a pay cut.

Fair pay increase

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our Faiveley members deserve a fair pay increase, not this real terms pay cut with strings attached.  The cost of living is already running at more than double what our members are being offered so little wonder that they have rejected this deal.

“Unite will be fully supporting our members to ensure that they are paid a fair rate for the job.”

 Rail customers 

The workforce, which is based at Morpeth Wharf, Birkenhead, supplies braking systems and parts to major train companies including Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi, Siemens, David Rees and Unipart Rail. Strike action will impair operations and disrupt production.

 No option

Unite regional officer Steve Gerrard said: “Unite has repeatedly urged management to reconsider their offer and return to the negotiating table. The refusal to do so means that our members have no option but to begin balloting for strike action.

 “If strike action should take place it will cause enormous disruption to the production lines of Faiveley Transport’s customers.”

Consultative ballot

The workers involved in the action undertake a variety of roles at the company including assembly fitters and trainers, strip and clean operatives and team leaders.

The ballot for industrial action opens on Tuesday 12 October and closes on Friday 22 October. If members vote for strike action then strikes could begin in early November. Prior to announcing the formal industrial action ballot Unite held a consultative ballot which recorded a 100 per cent yes vote in favour of taking strike action.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

During the coronavirus crisis Unite is working to keep workers and the public safe, to defend jobs and to protect incomes.

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 020 3371 2067 or 07802 329235.

Email: ma

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.

 

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