SCOTLAND is facing its biggest rail strike in modern history as thousands of railway staff have been balloted over worker safety concerns.
Some 40,00 workers are set to be balloted for a strike action that could affect a number of services, including LNER, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Cross Country Trains.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) told The Herald that ScotRail would also be impacted in any potential strike.
RMT has warned there are still 200 vacancies in maintenance delivery across Scotland, which it says is affecting passenger safety while referencing the Stonehaven rail crash in 2020 which killed three people.
The union also claims Network Rail plans to slash at least 2500 safety-critical maintenance jobs as part of a £2 billion cost-cutting exercise, with other staff having their pay frozen.
With the ballot held between April 26 and May 24, strike action could potentially begin in June.
READ MORE: 'Pinocchio' Prime Minister: Boris Johnson told to 'pack his bags and go'
Network Rail says they will not commit to changes that could make rail travel unsafe.
Gordon Martin, the RMT Scottish regional organiser, slated Network Rail, saying they were “butchering” their Scottish workforce.
Speaking to The Herald, he said: "A strike would have a huge impact on the people of Scotland.
"To cut jobs while there are existing vacancies mean there are real safety fears for the travelling public.
"Cut any more, and you have already seen the effects with a infrastructure failure in the Stonehaven derailment.
"They are real concerns and we have raised them with this minister and previous ministers so they cannot say they haven't been warned."
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have had to contend with pay freezes, the prospect of losing their jobs and repeated attacks on their terms and conditions. Removing 2,500 safety-critical jobs from Network Rail will spell disaster for the public, make accidents more likely and will increase the possibility of trains flying off the tracks.
“Train operating companies have praised our members for being key workers during the pandemic but have refused to keep staff pay in line with inflation and soaring living costs. As a result, thousands of railway workers have seen their living standards plummet and have run out of patience.
“The way for trade unions to effectively take on the cost-of-living crisis is to stand up for their members at work and take industrial action when employers are not moved by the force of reasoned argument. A national rail strike will bring the country to a standstill, but our members’ livelihoods and passenger safety are our priorities.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's regional director, commented: "Our railway has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, and even as passenger numbers start to recover, we know travel habits and passenger demand have changed and the industry has to change too.
"We cannot keep relying on Government handouts, and so we must work together with train operators and our trades unions to save millions of pounds and deliver a more efficient railway.
"We are disappointed that the RMT has taken this decision and urge them again to work with us, not against us, as we build an affordable railway fit for the future."
READ MORE: Boris Johnson urged to intervene in Jagtar Singh Johal case
A Network Rail spokesman said: "Our modernisation programme aims to build a sustainable future that delivers for passengers and creates better and safer jobs for our people. We would not consider any changes that would make the railway less safe.
“We are disappointed that the RMT has taken this decision and urge them again to work with us, not against us, as we build an affordable railway fit for the future."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel