Strikes will impact on rail services

Rail workers will take 24-hour strike action days due to what they call the “reckless” actions of Abellio Scotrail management.

This will impact Lanarkshire’s rail services on November 1-2, November 10-11, and November 12-13.

Unite The Union has said it has been left with no choice but to carry out these strike days as it has not had a meaningful offer from Abellio Scotrail.

This comes following a number of industrial action measures taken by union members demanding fair pay from the rail operator.

There are various depots and stations that will face delays from the strike.

The union has made demands with the employer including the reinstatement of the Rest Day Working Agreement for around 250 engineers who provide maintenance, overhaul, and repair services for the railway rolling stock.

But representatives have said there has been “no movement” from Abellio Scotrail.

Pat Mcilvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has been left with no choice but to resolutely respond to the reckless behaviour displayed by Abellio Scotrail management.

“While discussions have continued these talks have produced absolutely nothing. There has been no pay offer and no movement by the company.

“The talks have been spun out and cynically used as a delaying tactic to avoid the national embarrassment of having strike action during the COP26 climate change conference which is being held in Glasgow.

“Well, these tactics have spectacularly backfired because our engineering members will now hold several 24 hour stoppages in the coming weeks.”

A huge number of Unite’s engineering members voted in favour of the strike days; 78 per cent voted in support of strike action in a 68.4 per cent ballot turnout; and 92 per cent supported taking industrial action short of a strike.

A Scotrail spokesperson said: “We’re seeing customers gradually return to Scotland’s Railway, but the scale of the financial situation Scotrail is facing is stark.

“We will continue to engage with the rail trade unions to find an agreement on pay and conditions.

“To build a more sustainable and greener railway for the future and reduce the burden on the taxpayer, we need to change. All of us in the railway – management, staff, trade unions, suppliers, and government – need to work together to modernise the railway so that it is fit for the future.”