Rail workers are stepping up on their ongoing industrial action, prompting further “significant” disruption in the lead up to Christmas.
It comes as union members said they will strike for “as long as it takes” to get a fair pay deal, with ScotRail forced to cancel the majority of services due to lack of staff.
Trains across the west coast, north and north-east have been plagued by significant disruption in recent months due to the ongoing dispute between RMT union and ScotRail.
The union has now announced it plans to walk out on November 19 when Scotland’s rugby team will face Argentina, and on every Friday and Saturday until Christmas.
This is the latest blow for railway customers across the country, with delays and cancellations to services expected to escalate even further before the holidays.
More than 2,000 ScotRail workers are involved in the dispute – including conductors, ticket inspectors, depot staff, cleaners, CCTV operators and catering workers.
While ScotRail said the move will be “incredibly disappointing”, the union’s organiser in Scotland, Mick Hogg, told the BBC this would “focus minds to find a solution”.
Strikes to ‘severely impact customers’
The firm’s last deal, which offered all staff a 5% pay uplift plus add-ons, with the lowest paid workers offered a 7.5% increase, was withdrawn after the RMT refused to cancer a strike last Saturday.
ScotRail head of customer operations Phil Campbell, told the BBC: “We’ve had no formal confirmation yet from the RMT, but if what is being reported is accurate it is incredibly disappointing and will severely impact our customers, our staff and the economy in the lead up to Christmas.
“ScotRail made a significantly improved offer to the RMT, which would deliver a 7.4% basic pay increase for the lowest paid, provide job security for at least six years, and increase allowances and commission payments. It’s time for the RMT bosses to give members a say and put it to a referendum.
“Once we have formal notification of any further action, we will assess the full impact of this strike action and will begin working on contingency arrangements. We will update customers as soon as this is complete.”
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