Merseyrail cleaning staff to strike over pay issues

Staff on Merseyrail plan to go on strike next month due to a pay dispute. Cleaners will strike for 48 hours starting April 4. They rejected a pay offer from Churchill Services after finding it unacceptable. The RMT union is currently in talks with Churchill Services. However, a union spokesperson warned that if negotiations do not improve, they may escalate their actions. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasized that the cleaning staff are among the lowest paid in the industry and need a better offer. Dempsey stated that the current pay proposal does not meet their needs. He believes workers should be hired directly by Merseyrail to receive fairer terms and conditions. In related news, hundreds of workers at Livv Housing voted to increase strike actions that could disrupt services for tenants for six more months. Livv Housing disputes claims of 'union-busting,' stating that their contractors are part of their service delivery model. In earlier developments, strikes by train managers on Avanti West Coast were recently called off after a new offer was made to the union.