Disruption threat to Scotrail as staff vote for overtime ban in pay row

Scotrailpassengershavebeen warned of threatened disruption after the RMT union announced an indefinite overtime ban from Wednesday, 10 October.

It follows an overwhelming majority of conductors and other staff voting for the action over their being paid less than drivers for working on days off.

The union has instructed its 3,500 members involved not to volunteer for overtime or work on “rest days” from 10 October “until further notice”.

It has said that would cause “massive” disruption because Scotrail is short of staff.

RMT Scotland organiser Mick Hogg said: “Our railway will come to a grinding halt if overtime is banned.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It cannot be right that the company seem to value one group of workers over another. Their approach to the rest day working payments, where they have offered drivers enhanced arrangements, is nothing short of discriminatory.

Train conductors and other RMT members like station staff are paid between £112 and £140 for working on rest days compared to £300 for drivers.

Scotrail chief operating officer Angus Thom said: “Scotrail is investing more than £4 million in 140 new front-line roles to improve the work-life balance of our people and provide a better service to our customers.

“This investment means more people employed by Scotrail and will significantly reduce the need for rest day working.”