ARRIVA today attempted to justify a "fat-cat" rise for its group boss, Bob Davies, by claiming wage hikes were to ensure directors were "highly motivated and fairly rewarded".

The under-fire company was responding to criticism from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) which revealed that Mr Davies was awarded a £201,000 bonus last year.

That reward, along with other bonuses and benefits, took his salary to £541,352 - a figure which has enraged RMT leaders.

They are backing Arriva Trains Northern conductors, who are striking in protest at a pay offer from company bosses.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Bob Davies has well and truly joined the fat cats. And he still has the cheek to tell our conductors on Arriva Trains Northern that they shouldn't expect equal treatment with drivers who have won a deserved 18 per cent increase.

"When the boss gives himself a telephone-number pay package and the shareholders get a dividend increase of five per cent, there is no way our conductors will make do with three per cent."

But an Arriva spokeswoman said the rise reflected the individual contribution to group performance.

She said: "The objective of Arriva's remuneration policy for its executive directors is to ensure that they are highly motivated and fairly rewarded for their contribution to the group's overall performance."

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, April 10, 2002