ScotRail workers are set to strike next week after employees rejected the company's latest pay offer.
Services will face widespread disruption when the train operator’s union members take part in the latest strike action over a pay dispute.
The RMT announced staff members will take part in 24-hour strike action on Monday, October 10, which means a very limited number of services will operate on a very limited number of routes.
The dispute is separate from the RMT’s dispute with Network Rail which has seen disruption across the whole Great Britain railway network on a number of days since July.
A large proportion of ScotRail’s 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 said it will only be able to operate a limited service between 07.30 and 18.30 on the following three routes:
- Milngavie – Edinburgh Waverley (half hourly service).
- Glasgow Central – Lanark (hourly service).
- Glasgow Central – Larkhall (hourly service).
There will be no service except on three routes linking Milngavie with Glasgow and Edinburgh, and connecting Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.
For the routes which will operate a service, customers should only travel if they really need to and should consider alternative options where possible.
The RMT has also advised ScotRail that its general grades members will take part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action short of a strike from Friday, October 14, which will have some impact to ScotRail services until the dispute is resolved.
Customers will also see disruption to services on the days prior to October 10 due to strike action by RMT members of Network Rail.
Network Rail’s RMT members will take part in 24-hour strike action this Saturday, October 8, across the Great Britain railway network, resulting from a separate pay dispute with the track and infrastructure operator.
Many of the Network Rail staff that are due to take part in the planned industrial action occupy safety-critical roles and, as such, it will not be possible for ScotRail to run the vast majority of services on October 8.
ScotRail services will also be disrupted on Sunday, October 9. This is due to signal boxes across the country opening at different times throughout the day.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT has reached this outcome, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made.
“This strike action does nothing for the railway’s recovery at this fragile time. It will severely impact our customers and it will also cost our staff through lost wages.
“Due to the large number of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT, ScotRail customers should expect significant disruption to services on Monday, 10 October, as we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services.
“We’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to on Monday, 10 October.
“We remain open to resolving this dispute.”
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