Barclays Cycle Hire staff to strike over pay

Employees of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme have voted for industrial action in a row over pay.

The workers cited the imposition of a 2% pay increase for 2013 and a stop to overtime.

The employees will stop overtime work from midnight on Tuesday 16 July.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) trade union stated its members wanted to send a clear message to Serco Barclays, the cycle scheme’s operators, that they are serious about pay and working conditions.

Bob Crow, general secretary at RMT, added: “RMT will not stand aside and watch this group of key transport staff get kicked from pillar to post.

“The Cycle Hire Scheme is much more than a vanity project and a publicity stunt for the London mayor [Boris Johnson]. It is now a valuable part of our transport system and the staff should be valued as such.”

Andrew Hill, contract director at Serco for Barclays Cycle Hire, said: “We are very disappointed that the RMT has decided to take unnecessary industrial action over pay and working conditions by stopping staff working overtime.”