Passengers hoping to travel on ScotRail services will be facing widespread disruption on Saturday 29 October, as the RMT has confirmed a second day of strike action.
The strike follows industrial action on Monday 10 October, which saw services across the ScotRail network grind to a halt and is a result of the union’s rejection of an improved pay offer made by ScotRail.
Rejected offer
ScotRail met with RMT representatives on 4 October to discuss an improved pay offer, ahead of the earlier planned strike action. During this meeting, ScotRail proposed, self-funded, changes to the offer, which included:
- Introducing a ‘2p per-scan’ commission for mobile ticketing for the relevant staff
- Introducing a 3% commission payment for all gate and manual barrier staff
- Reintroducing a nominal one-off payment in terms of technology acceptance worth £500 for every member of the general grades (pro rata)
- Increasing the no compulsory redundancies guarantee from five years to six years
- The commitment to bring Sundays into the working week within a five-year period with full implementation by the 2027 December timetable will be moved to a joint working group and taken out of the pay offer
- Twenty-two bronze ticket offices moved to silver classification with a further review in March 2023
- £390 excess revenue share paid in December pay (less tax and NI contributions and pro rata)
These proposed changes are in addition to the offer that was put to RMT general grades members in a referendum:
- A 5% increase in basic pay. This is broken down as a 2.2% increase to recognise the cost-of-living challenges and a further 2.8% per cent increase which recognises and rewards the flexibility of rostering arrangements as ScotRail responds to changes in our markets as we emerge from the pandemic
- An excess revenue share premium, up to £195 per period (less tax and NI contributions and pro rata), which rewards all colleagues where ScotRail exceeds revenue budget targets
- An improvement in maternity and adoption leave payments comprising of 13 weeks average pay, then 13 weeks at 50% standard pay, then 13 weeks at statutory maternity pay
- Sunday working allowance (SWA) increased by 10%
- An increase in minimum flat rate pay to £10.50 per hour
Limited service
More than 2,000 ScotRail 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.
The members have announced an intention to walk on Saturday 29 October, only a very limited number of ScotRail services will be able to operate on a small number of routes.
ScotRail has confirmed it will only be able to operate a limited service between 7.30am and 6.30pm on the following three routes:
- Milngavie – Edinburgh Waverley via Glasgow Queen Street Low Level (half hourly service)
- Glasgow Central – Lanark (hourly service)
- Glasgow Central – Larkhall (hourly service)
The train operator is only able to provide this very limited service due to the number of contingency staff required to cover the shifts of those on strike.
It means there will be a very limited service for rugby fans heading to Scotland’s first autumn international match against Australia with fans advised to consider alternative arrangements.
Passengers are urged only to travel if they have no alternative, and to consider other options wherever possible.
Daily cancellations
ScotRail members of the RMT’s general grades are also currently taking part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action short of a strike. This has seen some daily cancellations across the ScotRail network since Friday, 14 October, as the train operator requires rest day working and overtime while recruitment continues.
Earlier this week, Network Rail members of the RMT trade union announced they will take part in 24-hour strike action on Thursday, 3 November, Saturday, 5 November, and Monday, 7 November. This dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, however it will have a major knock-on effect on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action will involve Network Rail staff in Scotland. ScotRail are now assessing the impact this will have its services and will updated customer as soon as possible.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT remains ongoing, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made.
“Further strike action has a damaging effect on railway’s recovery at a time when we should be encouraging more people to travel. Instead, our customers are being severely impacted and our staff losing out through lost wages.
“Regrettably, we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services on Saturday, 29 October, and customers should expect significant disruption to services due to the large proportion of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT trade union.
“We’re advising customers, including rugby fans intending to travelling to Scotland’s first autumn international at Murrayfield, to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel by train if they really need to.
“We remain open to resolving this dispute.” More information on how strike action will impact ScotRail services, including ScotRail’s refund policy, can be found on the ScotRail website at www.scotrail.co.uk/strike
Image credit: ScotRail
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