London Olympic Games bonus for Heathrow Express rail staff

Dominic Gover, Senior reporter Tuesday, June 12, 2012
1:12 PM

Rail workers could celebrate today after union chiefs succeeded in extracting another Olympics ‘bonus’ from bosses.

Staff on the Heathrow Airport shall pocket £700 for working during the Olympic Games and the Paralympics, next month.

It is another victory for Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

Critics of the award of Olympic ‘bonuses’ for transport staff claim they are nothing more than bribes.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “This is another important agreement secured by our negotiators which recognises the crucial role that Heathrow Express staff will play throughout the Games period.

“Our members deserve every extra penny for helping to deliver services throughout the biggest transport challenge that London has ever faced over the coming weeks.”

The award is an incentive, insisted a Heathrow Express spokeswoman.

“Heathrow Express has put in place a ‘Games Incentive Reward Scheme’ which pays out if additional passenger volumes and revenues occur on specific ‘peak’ days during the 2012 Games period.

“The incentive rewards the additional effort required to deliver a great service to all our customers during the 2012 Games.”

Transport workers in the capital have won a series of deals for an Olympic bonus, although thousands of bus drivers and other employees have voted to go on strike over a claim for a payment of £500.

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