Posted 5th July 2021 | 1 Comment

Cleaners are latest group to join ScotRail industrial action

Updated 10.16

CLEANERS at ScotRail depots are the latest group of workers who will be taking part in industrial action from next week.

Conductors and ticket examiners belonging to the RMT have been striking every Sunday for some time. Conductors began the action on 28 March in a dispute over pay for rest day working, which was sparked by a separate settlement for ASLEF drivers. Ticket examiners then began to stage walkouts from 2 May.

However, although a vote by cleaners in June failed to reach the legally required minimum in favour of strikes, enough voted in favour of action short of a strike.

The RMT says it is in dispute with ScotRail ‘in a long running battle for pay justice and equality’. Cleaners will begin an effective work to rule on 13 July, by refusing to work overtime, rest days or in a higher grade until further notice.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘It defies belief that three months into these disputes Abellio are refusing to budge, refusing to meet us and have the apparent support of Transport Scotland and the SNP leadership‎. It is a scandal on Scotland's railways of epic proportions.

‘All parties with an interest in Scotland’s transport and the fair treatment of the workforce should drag themselves out of the bunker and start talking now.’

ScotRail said it did not expect that its services would be affected by the cleaners' action.

Reader Comments:

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  • Neil Palmer, Waterloo

    Mick - what defies belief is that with the pandemic still rages and cases increasing again your and your members (who unlike thousands of others throughout these difficult times have been protected against loss of job and pay cuts - despite a 90% drop in traffic and revenue to TOCs so basically being bailed out by taxpayers) are inconsiderate, selfish and greedy enough to call strikes & work to rule campaigns for pay increases at this time. Talk about being out of touch with reality. Unbelievable!

    Of course they have the support of Transport Scotland - who do you think has been bailing out the railways with millions and millions of taxpayer's money over the last year plus?
    Traitors the lot of you. If there is one more casualty of this pandemic I can't think of a more deserving bunch than the RMT.