Cornwall rail workers to strike in row over pay
350 Great Western Railway engineers will join nationwide walk-outs on 1st October
Last updated 27th Sep 2022
Around 350 Great Western Railway (GWR) engineers will go on strike on Saturday 1st October, including those based in Cornwall.
Unite says they will join thousands of rail workers across the UK striking on the same day, in a row over pay.
The union claims that despite parent company, First Group, making large pre-tax profits in 2021/2022, the firm is refusing to offer the workers a pay rise.
"It will be the third year in a row their pay has been frozen", a spokesperson said. "Meanwhile the real rate of inflation, RPI, is 12.3%"
'Pay frozen for third year running'
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "For years, the wages of our Great Western Railway members have failed to keep up. With rocketing prices, the value of their pay is now falling even further behind.
"Great Western Railway and its owners First Group can absolutely afford to pay a decent rise; it is simply unacceptable that they are refusing to do so while sitting on such enormous profits.
"They need to put forward an offer that reflects the rising cost of living for GWR workers".
'Offer must reflect rising cost of living'
The striking workers are based at depots and stations in London, Exeter, Tiverton, Plymouth, Swindon, Swansea, Reading, Penzance, Oxford and Bristol.
Unite says if the dispute is not resolved then more strikes will be scheduled.
Regional officer, John McGookin, added: "Any disruption to Great Western Railway's services will be entirely the fault of the company for failing to put forward a pay rise. They must come back with an acceptable offer".
We have contacted GWR and First Group for a statement and updates will appear below.