by Conrad Landin

Industrial Reporter

FREIGHT bosses are training an army of “scab managers,” rail unions warned yesterday as they announced a series of strikes over lousy pay.

Over three-quarters of RMT members voted to back strike action at Freightliner Heavy Haul, one of the largest rail freight companies in the country. They now plan to walk out on Thursday and Friday.

Ground staff, shift managers, clerical workers and supervisors are in dispute with the company over a pay freeze and planned job losses. Freightliner says it is cutting back due to a decline in coal traffic.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is clear from the company accounts that despite the fact that there has been a downturn in the use of coal that Freightliner are still showing healthy reserves and profits.

“A pay rise to keep pace with the cost of living wwould be a drop in the ocean compared to the numbers on the Freightliner Heavy Haul balance sheet.”

Mr Cash said only front-line workers were “taking the hit” and that bosses’ pay had increased by nearly 30 per cent.

“RMT is aware that the company are also putting safety at risk by training scab managers — production managers and movement inspectors — on a very short course in shunting, compressing a normal five-week course down to three days in an effort to break the strike,” he added.

Freightliner said it had “undertaken pre-emptive work to ensure it is capable of safe ongoing business continuity during the strike period” and  welcomed “constructive” talks with RMT to resolve the dispute.

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