Heathrow Express staff get £700 Olympic pay deal

Rail staff working on Heathrow Express during the London Olympics will receive a bonus of £700, a union has said.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it recognised the "crucial role" of staff on the rail link between the airport and Paddington station.

Heathrow Express said workers would get a bonus if there were "additional passenger volumes and revenues occur on specific 'peak' days".

Workers on other rail services have already secured bonuses of up to £900.

'Biggest transport challenge'

Employees on London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Network Rail and Virgin will earn bonuses of between £500 and £900 for the Games.

But bus workers, who have not received an Olympics bonus, have voted to strike. They are calling for a £500 pay deal.

General Secretary of the RMT Bob Crow said: "This is another important agreement secured by our negotiators which recognises the crucial role that Heathrow Express staff will play throughout the Games period.

"Our members deserve every extra penny for helping to deliver services throughout the biggest transport challenge that London has ever faced over the coming weeks."

A spokeswoman for Heathrow Express said: "Heathrow Express has put in place a 'Games Incentive Reward Scheme' which pays out if additional passenger volumes and revenues occur on specific 'peak' days during the 2012 Games period.

"The incentive rewards the additional effort required to deliver a great service to all our customers during the 2012 Games."

Unite, the union representing bus workers, said they were the only transport workers in the capital who had not received an Olympics bonus.

Up to 40% of the union's members working for 21 bus companies voted, with 94% in favour of strike action. No strike dates have been set.