Signal workers to strike again

Rail signal workers in Scotland are holding further strikes over career progression. RMT union members will take industrial action on January 23 and January 27, following a three-day strike at Christmas.

The staff, based at the West of Scotland Signalling Centre, are disputing changes to a system where vacant posts were traditionally offered to staff.

Network Rail suggests the majority of the network should run as timetabled.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT has tried to reach a negotiated settlement to this unilateral ripping-up of a local arrangement but unfortunately the management have refused to see sense and have failed to engage with us at all since the strike action over Christmas. RMT members will not stand by while management unilaterally rip-up agreements and practices that have been in place at local level for decades.

“As a consequence of management’s continued intransigence we have no option but to go ahead with this further wave of strike action.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We’re confident we will run a comprehensive service for passengers. More than 95% of services across Scotland should run as timetabled. Only a small number of local Glasgow services will be reduced.

“We have made every effort to avoid a strike, but the union’s stance – that we must remove a signaller from his post before they will negotiate – has made it impossible to reach a resolution. If the union wishes to hold meaningful discussions, without that pre-condition, we are confident a resolution can be found.”

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