ScotRail staff back industrial action during UN conference

SCOTRAIL workers will go on strike during COP26 after a vote on industrial action.

The RMT rail union said 84 per cent of more than 2,000 members backed more strikes. It said the ballot schedule would allow action during the global climate gathering, which begins on October 31.

ScotRail staff will strike from November 1 until November 12. Caledonian Sleeper staff will hold two 24-hour stoppages – from 11. 9am on October 31 and from the same time on November 11.

Sunday services have been crippled for months by action on pay and conditions.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘This issue should have been sorted by now.’ Speaking before the strike dates were given, a ScotRail spokesman said: ‘We have made a formal written offer to all four rail trade unions.’

A Transport Scotland spokesman said the offer was ‘significant’.

Scottish Labour’s transport spokesman Neil Bibby called the strikes ‘an embarrassment to Scotland’ while the ‘world’s eyes are upon us’.