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Economic Development

GWR engineers to join thousands of rail workers striking over pay

The planned walk out next month is likely to cause huge disruption to services

A train waiting on a platform at Bristol Temple Meads station(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Hundreds of engineers who work for Great Western Railway (GWR) are planning to go on strike next month in a dispute over pay. Unite said around 350 of its members who work for GWR will walk out on October 1.

Thousands of rail workers across the country will be striking on the same day, threatening huge disruption to services. Delegates travelling to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham will be among those affected.

Unite said its members in GWR were facing the third year of having their pay frozen. GWR’s parent company, First Group, made pre-tax profits of £654m in the 2021-2022 financial year.

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.”

The striking workers are based at depots and stations in London, Exeter, Tiverton, Plymouth, Swindon, Swansea, Reading, Penzance, Oxford and Bristol.

If the dispute is not resolved then more strikes will be scheduled, said Unite.

Unite regional officer John McGookin added: “Any disruption to Great Western Railways' 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.”