A railway unionist said on Friday that pay rises announced by the MTR Corporation were slightly below their demands and called for improved benefits.

Their response came after the corporation said pay increases would be between 1.6 and 3.84 percent for most non-management staff, depending on their performance.

According to representatives of the Federation of Railway Trade Unions, over half of MTR staff will receive a 3.2 percent salary increase.

Workers will also receive a one-off performance-based bonus of between 1.4 and 2.07 months' salary, it said.

In a statement, the MTRC said the decision was made after a careful consideration of various factors, including its business performance, the market and economic environment, as well as employee contributions.

Speaking after meeting the MTR management, federation spokesman Lam Wai-keung said the union groups were disappointed that the corporation had not responded to their call for improved benefits, including an increase in the overnight shift allowance.

He said workers faced immense pressure having to carry out critical railway work within a two-hour window after the end of services every day.

"No other profession can match the intensity of the pressure we endure as the two-hour window closes. Increasing our overnight shift allowance is a basic and reasonable demand,” Lam said.

“It is common industry practice to pay double for night work. Some union members have handled tender documents. If contractors have to work at night their tender price would be much higher. This also proves that this is a standard industry practice.”

However, Lam said, the pay increases this time around came closer to meeting union demands than on many occasions in the past.

He added the federation would continue to engage in discussions with management to get the corporation to meet its other demands, which include instituting a tenure-based pay system and subsidising the cost of renewing professional licences.


Edited by Tony Sabine