RAILWAY workers have paved the way for a strike by voting for industrial action over ScotRail’s bid to cut 22 CCTV staff.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union backed action by nine to one, saying there are plans to cut staff in Paisley and Dunfermline who monitor the cameras. The union executive will now decide on what action to take.
Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said the jobs were “crucial” to providing a safe and secure railway, especially at a time of terror threats.
ScotRail wants to cut the posts saying it is seeking to modernise technology used at the two centres, which manage customer service information. The overhaul includes an upgrade of its CCTV system.
It is understood the company will offer affected staff voluntary severance packages and will re-deploy posts.
In a statement the RMT claimed “strenuous efforts” to resolve the dispute through negotiation had “drawn a blank at every stage”.
“It is shocking that at a time of unprecedented terror threats across the nation that ScotRail have decided to jeopardise the safety of the general public through these CCTV job cuts,” added Cash.
“These security posts are crucial to providing a safe and secure railway network and RMT will not sit back while ScotRail gamble with the safety of both staff and passengers. The union’s executive will now consider the next steps and we remain available for talks.”
Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Neil Bibby MSP said the workers in Paisley and Dunfermline carried out “extremely important jobs” protecting the travelling public and called on the Scottish Government to intervene in the dispute.
“Twenty two workers can cover hundreds of trains and protect thousands of passengers every week – ensuring that if a passenger has an accident they get the help they need,” he said.
“Members of two rail unions have now voted for industrial action. The workforce is warning that plans for job losses and restructuring will make it harder for them to keep passengers safe.
“It is time for ScotRail and the Scottish Government to listen and address those concerns.”
He added: “The British Transport Police faces being dismantled in Scotland, there is a heightened risk of terrorism and, according to independent surveys, fewer passengers say they feel safe when travelling.
“The Scottish Government and ScotRail need to convince passengers and staff that public safety remains paramount – to demonstrate this they should immediately address the concerns of ScotRail’s CCTV operators.”
A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “We are making major improvements to the way in which we provide information to our customers.
“As part of that, we are also upgrading our CCTV system.
“We have a no compulsory redundancy policy which we fully intend to honour. We continue to discuss this issue with our staff and the unions in order to reach agreement on a way forward. Talks are currently ongoing.”
Last month ScotRail was ranked the best-performing large train operator in the UK, according to operators’ performance figures.
The train operator’s moving annual average – measuring reliability and punctuality – hit 90.9 per cent for the year to August 19.
An improvement plan was created last year amid a turbulent period for the Abellio ScotRail Alliance when it faced calls to be stripped of its £7 billion 10-year franchise to run Scotland’s railways after performance slipped below contracted standards.
In November last year Nicola Sturgeon was forced to issue an apology to commuters in Holyrood after Scotrail passengers faced considerable delays when a rush-hour train ground to a halt that morning.
The First Minister said sorry to rail passengers after the break down between Waverley and Haymarket stations caused havoc across the rail network and was branded “probably the worst place in the country”.
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