Union members voted for strike action by 75 per cent
THE FIRST of several planned strikes by ScotRail workers began this morning over plans to extend ‘driver-only’ operations – here we round up a selection of tweets and pictures.
Talks between the RMT union and private operator Abellio broke down ahead of the planned one-day strike, which is the first of several planned walk-outs across the ScotRrail network. The dispute is over Abellio’s plans to make the new trains, due to come into service in 2018, ‘driver-only’, meaning that the trains will operate without conductors, and drivers will operate doors.
Two dozen routes have cancelled or reduced services today.
Pickets are currently being held at stations across the country, including Glasgow’s Central Station and Queen Street Station.
RMT Picket line at Glasgow Queen Street as union strikes over role of guards on Scotrail. #bbcgms @BBCGaryR pic.twitter.com/ZgGulm6EVB
— David Allison (@DavidAllison_) June 21, 2016
Visited pickets at Central Station. Solidarity with @RMTunion & proud to wear their t-shirt in work! #ScotRailStrike pic.twitter.com/f670dOEezO
— Suki Sangha (@sukisangh) June 21, 2016
A picket at Edinburgh Waverly highlights what the RMT says it the central issue at stake: public safety
RMT picket at Edingburgh Waverley Station. @RMTjay @RMTWaterloo @YorkshireHibee pic.twitter.com/pZIVUbj6II
— Cmrd_Foxy (@streetphantom) June 21, 2016
Mon the guards! @ScotRail #RMTStrike #notodoo #keeptheguardonthetrain pic.twitter.com/sRo6UgVZ81
— Abigail Brownlee (@abi_brownlee) June 21, 2016
RMT members are also striking on Southern services in the south of England, over the same driver-only issue.
Supporting #RMT strike #KeepTheGuardOnTheTrain #StaySafe #undc16 @PlymouthUNISON @RMTunion pic.twitter.com/cUc6QtMySt
— Lala (@Lalaiam) June 21, 2016
#RMTStrike solidarity with striking workers @freethepeeps @BobEllard1 @RMTLondon @RMTunion @NSSN_AntiCuts pic.twitter.com/G59XYQRsyc
— paula peters (@paulapeters2) June 21, 2016
A petition backing the union’s demand for guards on trains has attracted several thousand signatures on campaign site 38 Degrees.
Scotrail has refuted the RMT’s claims that driver-only operations are unsafe. This morning a leaflet was circulated by the company with a message from Phil Vester, managing director of the Scotrail Alliance which runs the service. Vester stated that pay and conditions are guaranteed and that the strike is unecessary:
In case you missed @MetroScotland this morning, here's the latest message from our MD, Phil Verster #RMTstrike pic.twitter.com/X3BYxUfz41
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) June 21, 2016
The RMT union however maintains that passenger safety is only guaranteed by the presence of guards who have extensive safety training, and accused ScotRail of ‘sabotaging’ negotiations.
Read more: RMT official: Removing guards from trains will threaten safety of passengers
Picture courtesy of CARL SPENCER
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