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Further rail strikes may affect far north services


By David G Scott

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After ticket examiners voted for strike action last week, rail engineers are now attempting to force a wage rise in a move that is expected to further disrupt services on the far north line.

ScotRail said a vote for strike action by Unite engineers was "reckless" during a pandemic and the most serious financial crisis in the railway’s history.

The trade union called for strike action in an attempt to force a wage rise at a time when passenger numbers and revenue has dropped by more than 90 per cent due to the pandemic, with little likelihood that significant passenger numbers will return in the short term.

ScotRail has received more than £400million in emergency Scottish Government support, which has been necessary to allow it to pay staff wages and operate services for key workers.

Train heading towards Wick railway station. Picture: DGS
Train heading towards Wick railway station. Picture: DGS

The result of the consultative ballot was reported as being heavily in favour of strike action, but the actual figures for the ballot have not been provided by Unite.

Since 2017, ScotRail claims it has added "more than 80 high-paid, high-skilled engineering jobs" to its organisation to deal with work-life balance concerns.

Thanks to the emergency government funding, ScotRail says it hasn’t cut any permanent jobs, reduced wages, cut terms and conditions, used furlough, or cut any employee benefits. A further agreement has been reached with the Scottish Government to run until September 2021, which will be vital in providing the platform upon which the railway can recover.

In recent days, ScotRail posted a £64.5million loss in its annual accounts for 2019/20.

The company said it will await further information from Unite about its next steps following the consultative ballot, including whether a formal ballot will follow.

Syeda Ghufran, ScotRail engineering director, said: “I am disappointed engineers have backed Unite’s reckless push for strike action.

“ScotRail has a proud record of providing high-paid, high-skilled engineering jobs. While other transport operators have had to cut jobs and reduced wages during the pandemic, I am proud that ScotRail has been able to protect all jobs, wages, and conditions.

“At a time when the railway faces the most serious financial crisis in its history, we need to work together to recover ScotRail, get passengers using the trains again, and build a more sustainable operation. Strike action is divisive and wrong.”

Strike threatens far north rail services


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