NUR SET TO STRIKE?
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STRIKE action by 6,000 members of the National Union of Railwaymen is likely unless there is settlement of a dispute over London weighting payments the men are claiming from the National Freight Corporation.
In 1974 the Government's Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) ruled that London weighting should be paid over a £40 a week basic wage offered by the NFC.
It was eventually paid but the corporation refused to backdate the payment.
Now the men are threatening the strike over their claim for the 1974 and 1975 allowances. The NUR says that NFC owes the 6,000 men 42 weeks at £4.28.
This week a statement from the NFC said that the corporation was "surprised to learn of the NUR decision to call an official strike on May 9."
The threat follows the arrangement of a meeting between the NUR, NFC and ACAS. The NFC statement said that it found it "difficult to understand the union's conclusion in advance of that meeting that strike action should be taken."