Arriva bosses get tough in bid to settle dispute

The company revealed it was withdrawing rest day working with immediate effect in a bid to hit conductors in the pocket.

The tactic is aimed at stopping striking staff from recovering lost pay by coming into work on rest days. Managing director Ray Price said it would "not give in to unnecessary industrial action" and allow members of the RMT union to continue to disrupt services.

Arriva has written to all of its train conductors and urged them to reconsider their stance.

Conductors plan a third 48-hour walkout on March 1 and 2 in their long running dispute over pay.

They have been offered a three per cent basic increase, plus five per cent from productivity gains.

The Rail Maritime and Transport workers union is understood now to be holding out for a basic 9.7 per cent increase.

Mr Price said rosters were now being managed to ensure that the maximum number of trains were run for customers, while preventing conductors from recovering lost pay.

He said: "We have offered a fair and reasonable package and have invested huge amounts of time to resolve this dispute.

"We continue to be available at any time for meaningful talks. However, our focus will be on providing services for our customers and operating as many trains as possible during strike days."

Conductors have been warned that the longer the dispute continues the less able Arriva will be to fund the pay offer currently on the table.

The subsidised train operator lost nearly £m in revenue as a result of the first 48-hour walkout last month.

Stan Herschel, the RMT regional organiser, said it was clear that management was now taking a "hard line" and accused them of bullying tactics.

He said: "They are trying to put the boot into our members, which will only inflame the situation."

The RMT intended to press ahead with the next 48-hour walkout.

It was also continuing to take legal advice on plans to hold "no fares" days where conductors would refuse to take payment from passengers