Hitachi engineers and maintenance crews under LNER at Craigentinny, Bounds Green & Doncaster maintenance depots across the East Coast Main Line are to strike, with staff announcing a series of dates running from 0001 to 2359 on February 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 24.
The development comes as Hitachi staff performing near-identical roles under Great Western Railways (GWR), secured a pay increase, resolving an on-going dispute.
Union Unite which represents around 300 members at Hitachi said that increased pay for its member workers on the GWR contract has resulted in a six per cent increase on basic pay plus a £1,250 lump sum payment backdated from April 1, 2023 in year one, with a 5.2 per cent on basic pay effective from April 1, 2024 in year two.
However, Unite and RMT members at LNER performing near-identical jobs haven’t been offered the same deal and are unhappy with their pay in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis.
When asked if the announced strikes would impact its customer service, an LNER spokesperson said: “We are aware of planned industrial action at one of our train service providers. Contingency plans have been enacted by the supplier and we continue to work with them. We are reviewing the potential impact this may have on our services and will do everything we can to operate as many services as possible."
According to its latest filings with Companies House, Hitachi Rail Limited made £104 million in profits and its highest-paid director earned nearly £1.4 million.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is reprehensible that the same firm is dragging its feet for other workers at different depots doing the same job.
“This nonsense needs to stop, especially considering Hitachi are rolling in cash and paying huge dividends to shareholders.”
Hitachi declined to comment on the situation.
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