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First Great Western cleaners strike over pay and contracts First Great Western staff to be balloted on strike action
(about 9 hours later)
Cleaners working on First Great Western trains have gone on strike over wages and zero-hour contracts. Drivers, guards and staff at First Great Western (FGW) are to be balloted on strike action over use of agency staff and unfair dismissal claims.
Railway Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members with contractor MITIE began a 24-hour walk-out at 06:00. Railway Maritime and Transport (RMT) members will vote on a campaign of industrial action in the coming weeks.
They claim to be the operator's lowest-paid workers. An offer of a 2% wage rise, made earlier in the year, was rejected. The announcement comes on the day FGW cleaners walked out for 24 hours over pay and zero-hour contracts.
MITIE said it had "full contingency plans" and was planning further talks with the RMT. The company, which has just been given an extension to its contract, said it was working to meet its obligations.
'Fair share' However, the RMT claims there has been a breakdown of industrial relations at the firm and around 2,500 of its members will be balloted over issues including claims of a high number of unfair dismissals.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said it had been a "long fight" for workplace and pay justice and its union members had "shown guts and determination" throughout. 'Have money available'
"Only last week First landed a jackpot rollover with a two-year contract extension on Great Western that will make them and their sub-contractors a fortune," he added. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said its members had "had enough of being kicked from pillar to post".
"Justice says that now is the time for the cleaners out there day and night on First Great Western (FGW) to get their fair share through a Living Wage, decent sick pay and benefits and an end to the evil of zero hours contracts." "With First securing a highly lucrative extension to their Great Western contract last week there is no excuse for them to blame the failure to reach agreement on the uncertainty over the franchise," he said.
The strike will run until 05:59 on Saturday. "It is also clear as day that they have the money available now to employ adequate numbers of permanent staff and to treat them with dignity and respect in every workplace."
A FGW spokesman said the firm was working with MITIE, as its contractor, to ensure it met its contractual obligations. Earlier, cleaning staff from the RMT union and contractor MITIE began a 24-hour walk-out.
They claim to be the operator's lowest-paid workers and earlier this year, rejected an offer of a 2% wage rise.
The strike is due to run until 05:59 on Saturday.
An FGW spokesman said the firm was working with MITIE, as its contractor, to ensure it met its contractual obligations.
The firm operates trains across the Western region, carrying 1.5m passengers every week on 9,000 services and calling at 276 stations.The firm operates trains across the Western region, carrying 1.5m passengers every week on 9,000 services and calling at 276 stations.