Passengers using ScotRail services are being urged to check before they travel after industrial action is causing potential cancellations on the service.
Trade union members are following instructions from the RMT not to work any overtime, following a pay dispute with the operator.
The ban on overtime and rest day working is part of action short of a strike from the RMT and follows the 24-hour strike action on Monday, 10 October resulting from the pay dispute. The action will see some daily cancellations, as the operation of full ScotRail services requires rest day working and overtime as a recruitment drive continues.
The RMT rejected ScotRail’s latest pay offer which was made in a bid to resolve the dispute and avert further strike action. This dispute is separate from the Network Rail RMT dispute that has also resulted in several days of strike action in recent months. ScotRail’s offer included a 5% basic pay increase, a six-year job guarantee, a £500 one-off payment for the use of technology such as mobile phones, and improved maternity leave conditions. ScotRail also put forward a further £390 payment and enhanced commission for frontline teams. ScotRail has requested the put the latest pay offer to its members in a referendum.
Over 2,000 of ScotRail’s employees are members of the RMT and include people in roles such as such as conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff, engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource co-ordinators, and CCTV operators.
Passengers are urged to check the ScotRail website, app and social media before they travel, as details of any cancellations will be communicated on these platforms.
Phil Campbell, head of customer operations at ScotRail said: “We are really disappointed with this additional industrial action, which will again impact on our customers, following the strike action earlier in the week.
“The ban on overtime does nothing for the railway’s recovery during this challenging time, and in addition to the impact on those travelling, it will further cost our staff with lost income.
“We do rely on staff working overtime in various parts of the business as we actively recruit to fill vacancies, and unfortunately there will be some daily cancellations starting from Friday, 14 October, and throughout the period of the RMT’s ban.
“We will do everything we can to minimise the impact on customers, however, there will be some disruption. We advise customers to check their journey before they travel, particularly in the morning before they start their day.
“We are continuing to meet with RMT representatives to resolve this dispute.”
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