16 September 2016
RMT Press Office
RMT strike dates at UK freight giant Freightliner Heavy Haul over pay.
TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed today that 24-hour strike action will take place on September 22/23 at Freightliner Heavy Haul in a dispute over pay.
Over 75 per cent of members voting backed the action in a dispute at one of the largest freight companies in the country.
The union instructed all affected members not to book on for any shifts that commence between:- 00:01 hours on Thursday September 22 and 23:59 hours on Friday September 23.
The timeline of the dispute is as follows:
August 18 2015 - 0% offered
January 16 2016 - Referendum ballot of RMT members rejects offer by 9 to 1
Jan to May 16 – Redundancy Consultations begin due to down turn in coal usage
August/September - Ballot underway including, Groundstaff, Shift Managers, Clerical and Supervisory.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is clear from the company accounts that despite the fact that there has been a downturn in the use of coal that FLHH are still showing healthy reserves and profits and that a pay rise to keep pace with the cost of living would be a drop in the ocean compared to the numbers on the Freightliner Heavy Haul balance sheet.
“The union also notes that Directors’ pay has shot up by nearly 30% over a year showing that it is only the front-line workforce being expected to take the hit.
“RMT is aware that the company are also putting safety at risk by training scab managers - production managers and movement inspectors - on a very short course in shunting compressing a normal five week course down to three days in an effort to break the strike.
“The union is calling for a fair pay increase that stops our members taking a hit on their standard of living. It is clear that a reasonable increase is affordable and that is what our members are fighting for.
The union remains available for talks.”
Ends
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