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MTR union upset over lowest pay raise in seven years

Most MTR staff are disappointed with the latest pay raise issued by the railway company. According to details of the pay raise offer announced by MTR Corp yesterday, workers have been offered salary increases of between 1.7% and 5.1%, the lowest in seven years.

The Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions, which represents 4,000 MTR workers, was not happy with the offer. The union had demanded a 5% pay raise for all, after conducting a salary survey among workers in May.

"We are disappointed about the rise, as it was less than what we demanded,” the federation’s rights director, Wong Yuen Wood, told the South China Morning Post after meeting with MTR Corporation management yesterday.

According to Ming Pao, the MTR union collected opinions on pay raise from 1200 workers. 94% of the respondents hoped to have a pay raise between 5% and 8% and the union had made it clear to management it wanted a pay raise of no less than 5% for all workers.

Although the union is unhappy with the pay raise offer, Wong said they had no plans for industrial action yet.

Federation chairman Lam Shiu Wai said workers’ demands were justified as they are facing heavier workload. He pointed out in some cases workers logged in 100 hours of overtime a month. “After the company increased the train frequencies, our workload has increased. We are now facing a shortage of manpower,” he said.

MTR Corp explained the level of pay raise was determined by taking into account pay rises offered by 30 companies, a mechanism which the company feels has worked effectively over the years.

ALSO READ: HSBC to slash pay raises and bonuses

Photo/ 123RF

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