RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it is preparing to ballot cleaning, facilities and asset management and mechanical engineering staff on Heathrow Express for both strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pay.

The staff are employed by contractors Amey Rail, BAA, who own Heathrow Express and Amey, are all part of Ferrovial.

The company have offered staff only a derisory 1.75% increase and nothing for Olympics working which is not only a direct cut to standards of living but also at odds with a pay deal secured by RMT for directly employed Heathrow Express staff at above RPI and a substantial Olympics recognition and reward agreement.

RMT has also highlighted issues of poor and unfair treatment of staff and undermining of Terms and Conditions that have been TUPE'd across in the past.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Here we have yet another group of contracted workers in the rail industry who are being told to take a hit on their pay and working conditions while the companies who employ them look to widen their profit margins. RMT members have rightly said that they will not put up with this blatant unfairness and have asked us to organize a ballot for action.

“The scandal of exploitation and profiteering on Britain’s railways is once again blown open in this dispute and RMT will be organizing and campaigning for a massive YES vote in the ballot.