No train service set to run in the Highlands on Saturday as RMT confirms ScotRail strike action over pay row
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TRAIN users in the Highlands are being warned that no service will be running in the region following the latest development over a pay dispute.
RMT strike action will go ahead on Saturday, October 29 after the RMT’s Company Council and National Executive Committee (NEC) rejected ScotRail’s latest offer.
This represents the second day of strike action as part of the trade union’s dispute over pay with the train operator.
It means only three routes in the central belt will be operating with a skeleton service due to the number of contingency staff required to cover the shifts of those on strike.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “It’s really disappointing that the RMT has refused to put this improved offer to its members so they can have a say.
“Further strike action has a damaging effect on railway’s recovery at a time when we should be encouraging more people to travel. Instead, our customers are being severely impacted and our staff losing out through lost wages.
“Regrettably, we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services on Saturday, 29 October, and customers should expect significant disruption to services due to the large proportion of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT trade union.
“We’re advising customers, including rugby fans intending to travel to Scotland’s first autumn international at Murrayfield, to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel by train if they really need to.
“We remain open to resolving this dispute.”
ScotRail proposed consolidating the one-off technology payment into basic pay on top of the 5 per cent already offered, this was worth £500 per member for all general grade staff (pro-rata). This would have meant an improvement on the previous offer of a 5 per cent increase in basic pay.
The improved element of the offer was conditional on the suspension of this weekend’s strike action by the RMT, and the offer being put to the union’s members. Given the RMT’s refusal to do either of those things, the improved element of the offer has been withdrawn.
More information on the impact of strike action to ScotRail services, including ScotRail’s refund policy, can be found on the ScotRail website at scotrail.co.uk/strike.
More than 2,000 ScotRail employees are members of the RMT, including in roles such as conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff (including train dispatch), engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource co-ordinators, and CCTV operators – though not all employees in these roles are trade union members.
ScotRail members of the RMT’s general grades are also currently taking part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action short of a strike. This has seen some daily cancellations across the ScotRail network since Friday, October , as the train operator requires rest day working and overtime 14 while recruitment continues.
