Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, has secured increased pay for workers at Hitachi trains working on Great Western Railways (GWR), resolving an industrial dispute. 

Some Hitachi engineers, repairs and maintenance crews at LNER remain on strike though as Hitachi has not made the same offer to these workers. 

Hitachi employees at GWR have secured the following two year pay increase following the threat of industrial action that would have led to trains remaining in the sidings without the repairs and maintenance necessary to run safely: 

  • Year 1 - 6% on basic pay plus a £1,250 lump sum payment effective from 1 April 2023 covering FY 23/24

  • Year 2 – 5.2% on basic pay effective from 01 April 2024 covering FY 24/25 

But Unite and RMT members at LNER who have not been offered the same deal are unhappy with their pay in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis when they perform highly skilled roles that are safety critical for the railway industry.  

The stoppages began on Saturday 27 January and will take place at Craigentinny, Bounds Green & Doncaster maintenance depots across the East Coast mainline and will conclude on Thursday 1st February. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

“I’m pleased that we have won an excellent pay award for those Hitachi members at GWR but it is incredibly disappointing that the same firm are dragging their feet for other workers at different depots doing the same job. 

“This nonsense needs to stop, especially considering Hitachi are rolling in cash and paying huge dividends to shareholders.” 

Unite national officer John McGookin added:  

“The power of a union is plain to see as Unite have secured an increase for the majority of our Hitachi members and will continue to take industrial action until all Hitachi workers are given the pay rise they deserve.” 

 

-ENDS-