ARRIVA conductors off sick during weeks when their colleagues have been on strike have had their pay stopped, a rail union has claimed.

Stan Herschel, regional organiser at the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), accused Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) of docking the pay of sick workers because they were ill during strike weeks.

Mr Herschel warned the company their tactics would not batter members into submission.

But ATN managing director Ray Price said the company was only trying to ensure that sickness leave was genuine.

Mr Herschel said: "We are compiling a dossier of cases with a view to lodging tribunal claims.

"We know of one conductor undergoing blood tests who had a whole week of pay stopped because his sick leave coincided with our last 48-hour strike."

"It means that GPs can expect to see employees with minor ailments presenting themselves for certificates because they are afraid of having their pay stopped."

But Mr Price said: "Recently there have been some incidents where a higher rate of sickness leave has occurred before and on strike days.

"In view of the protracted dispute ... and the subsequent inconvenience being experienced by our customers, we believe it is only reasonable to request sick notes if we are in doubt about whether sickness leave is genuine."

Meanwhile, officials with the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) have condemned Arriva's claims to be available for pay talks.

Station and clerical staff finished another 48-hour dispute at 9pm last Friday night.

Steve Coe, TSSA negotiations officer, said: "They claim they are willing to talk at any time. But the truth is that they refuse to do so.

"TSSA will meet the company at any time in order to resolve this dispute. The travelling public has a right to expect the same from ATN."

Mr Price said: "The reality is ATN has spent 18 months in discussions ... and we have put forward a range of proposals for station and retail staff, all of which the unions have rejected.

"Some grades are seeking a basic pay rise of between 25 and 31 per cent.

"We consider this to be an unrealistic claim. However, we remain available for meaningful talks at any time."

Updated: 11:11 Monday, April 29, 2002