Arriva faces rail pay strikes

DRIVERS on Arriva Trains Merseyside are to stage two 48-hour strikes in a protest over pay. Train drivers' union Aslef said 96.2% of members voted in favour of industrial action after Arriva management refused to increase a two-year pay deal of 3.5%.

Aslef described the pay and conditions package as 'derisory' saying Arriva Trains Merseyside drivers wanted parity with other drivers in the rail industry.

Arriva Trains Merseyside managing director Bob Hind said the company still hoped to resolve outstanding issues at a future meeting.

A union spokesman the drivers wanted parity with the rest of the industry. 'Only last year, Arriva Trains Northern drivers were awarded an increase of almost 20%,' he said.

Arriva Trains Merseyside runs one of the most frequent commuter services outside London linking Liverpool with Wirral, Chester, Southport and west Lancashire. The 48-hour strikes are scheduled to start on August 27 and September 10.

Drivers from First North Western, who are involved in a seperate pay dispute, will take part in three planned 48-hour strikes scheduled to start next Tuesday.