TRAIN and station cleaners are set to strike on two days in the lead up to Christmas.

Staff employed by Servest UK to work on the company's Great Western Railway contract are being urged to join two 24-hour walkouts starting at 5.59am on Friday, December 16 and December 23.

The dispute involves a number of issues including pay, parity with GWR staff, annual leave, provision of safety clothing and an agreement for a permanent workforce and an end to the use of agency workers.

The RMT union says it want current agency workers to be made GWR members of staff to end what it views as a two-tier workforce.

The issues have come to a head as a result of the failure of members terms and conditions to be safeguarded when they were transferred over to Servest UK from Mitie on the GWR contract.

RMT balloted 189 members and had a 58% turnout, with 98% voting for strike action and a similar percentage backing action short of a strike.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “Our cleaner members have voted decisively for action on GWR.

"RMT will not stand by while they are mercilessly exploited by privateers, while rail companies fill their coffers as fares soar through the roof.

“GWR and Servest UK need to do the right thing and immediately resolve the issues relating from the transfer of staff and bring these workers back in house so that they are on the same terms and conditions as the rest of the staff.

“The union remains available for talks.”

Servest Group began a three-year cleaning contract in August to provide cleaning services to 102 stations, including Taunton, and 150 trains for the GWR franchise.

A GWR spokesman said: “We are aware that contract staff at Servest, which carries out cleaning on board our trains, are planning to take industrial action later this month.

"We do not expect this to affect our services, and strongly encourage both parties to continue discussions to resolve the dispute.”