London Overground staff to strike over pay

Overground staff are set to strike in February and March

More than 300 London Overground staff will strike next month over pay, the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) has announced.

Security, control, station and revenue staff are set to walk out for 48 hours on 19 February and again on 4 March.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said members were "furious" they had been given a "below inflation pay offer".

Arriva Rail London, which has the London Overground contract, said it had offered a "good pay award".

Transport for London urged RMT to continue to engage with the operator "to try to resolve this dispute".

Staff are due to walk out from from 00:01 GMT on 19 February until 23:59 on 20 February. Then again from 00:01 on 4 March until 23:59 on 5 March.

Mr Lynch said: "London Overground workers do an important job delivering services for Transport for London and supporting passengers on journeys throughout London.

"If this dispute cannot be resolved then RMT is more than prepared for a sustained period of industrial action to get London Overground workers the pay rise they deserve."

'Committed'

Steve Best, managing director at Arriva Rail London, said: "We are hugely disappointed to hear of the RMT union's decision to stage industrial action on the London Overground in February and March.

"We believe we have offered a good pay award in comparison not only to our industry, but other industries and businesses in the UK too. We remain committed to engaging with the RMT in the hope of resolving this dispute."

He added that "robust contingency plans" would be in place ahead of any strikes.

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