First Great Western cleaners stage third walkout

First Great Western (FGW) train cleaners have walked out for a third time in a dispute over pay and zero-hours contracts.

South West members of the RMT union working for cleaning contractors Mitie went on strike at 6am on Thursday 7 November and are not due to return to work until 5.59am on Saturday (9 November).

London-based workers will not work thier shifts between 6am on Friday 8 November 2013 and 5.59am on Monday 11 November 2013.

MITIE said it was continuing to talk with the RMT and had "contingency plans" in place.

The latest phase of action by around 200 Mitie/FGW staff follows two 24-hour strikes last month which saw a number of pickets out in force at key locations across the franchise.

Workers rejected an offer of a 2% wage rise; the RMT argued the company boss is "presiding over the culture of low pay and zero hours contracts", despite pre-tax profits of £58.8m.

In a letter to MITIE workers, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has told members to "stand together in solidarity during this action."

Mr Crow wrote: "The company are trying to panic you into accepting a BELOW inflation pay increase and they are threatening you with disciplinary action if you do not attend work and take strike action. Let me make this perfectly clear to you that any member who MITIE attempts to discipline for taking strike action will be protected by RMT and we will use the full force of the law if necessary."

Mr Crow has pledged to provide £100 strike pay to all RMT members who take part in the strike action.

"MITIE are key players in the driving down on wages and working conditions for some of the lowest paid workers in Britain," the RMT boss said.

"Now is the time for the cleaners out there day and night on MITIE/First Great Western to get their fair share through a living wage, decent sick pay and benefits and an end to the evil of zero-hours contracts."

FGW have assured passengers that the strike action will not impact on services.