Train drivers to stage 24 hour strike over pay

Drivers on Arriva Trains Wales are to strike on the day Wales play England in the Six Nations rugby union competition, it was announced today.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union will walk out for 24 hours on February 4 in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

The workers went on strike on December 27 after earlier voting strongly in favour of industrial action.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT has rejected a further unacceptable offer from the company that would have left our members with an effective pay cut and which was loaded with strings.

"We have held a full consultation with our members and they are clear that the current position of Arriva Trains Wales does not go far enough to protect their standard of living with inflation roaring ahead to 5% and VAT and other core costs being jacked up as working people are told to pay the price for the bankers' crisis.

"Our members have already shown their determination to win a decent settlement with a rock-solid strike, and it is now for the company to recognise their anger and negotiate a just deal that delivers fair reward and a decent work/life balance.

"It is our members' hard work that creates Arriva's profits and it is time that the company paid heed to the needs of its workforce rather than just the demands of shareholders."

Wales play England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on the evening of February 4.