GWR rail managers vote for strike action in flexible working row

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The TSSA union is calling for flexible allowances relating to shift work to come under basic pay as a means of protecting salary and enhancing pension rights.   

In a separate dispute, 100 per cent of clerical grades — members working for the finance directorate within retail accounts — voted to take action short of a strike but rejected strike action by a narrow margin.

This is over the addition to their workload of “accounts receivable” work, where they are now expected to chase other organisations to pay unpaid bills. 

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “Our members at GWR have voted decisively to take industrial action across these two disputes having already made their feelings clear in an earlier indicative ballot.

“Strike action and action short of a strike which will have a real impact on services at GWR are now inevitable unless the company addresses these perfectly legitimate demands.

“It’s in no way reasonable for our members to suffer any financial hardship for doing shift work which in itself runs the increased risk of physical and mental impairment.  

“Likewise, for clerical grades, it’s simply not acceptable that they see their workloads increase without that reflecting both grading and pay.   

“Our union only uses strike action as a last resort, so the ball is very much in GWR’s court. We stand ready to get back around the table and talk at any time.”  

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