Very
few
ScotRail
trains
are
running
today
because
members
of
the
RMT
in
general
grades
are
staging
a
24-hour
strike.

The
action
has
gone
ahead
after
the
union
rejected
a
pay
offer
on
Thursday.

ScotRail
is
warning
that
limited
services
will
run
only
between
Edinburgh
and
Milngavie,
and
from
Glasgow
Central
to
Lanark
and
Larkhall.
These
trains
will
be
run
by
contingency
staff.
Passengers
are
being
asked
to
travel
only
if
they
must.

The
RMT
has
also
advised
ScotRail
that
its
general
grades
members
will
take
part
in
an
overtime
and
rest
day
working
ban
as
part
of
action
short
of
a
strike
from
14
October,
which
will
disrupt
some
services
until
the
dispute
is
resolved.

ScotRail’s
head
of
customer
operations
Phil
Campbell
said:
‘We’re
really
disappointed
that
the
dispute
with
the
RMT
has
reached
this
outcome,
given
the
strength
of
the
improved
pay
offer
ScotRail
made.

‘This
strike
does
nothing
for
the
railway’s
recovery
at
this
fragile
time.
It
will
severely
impact
our
customers
and
it
will
also
cost
our
staff
through
lost
wages.’

Speaking
to
the
BBC,
RMT
senior
organiser
for
Scotland
and
Northern
Ireland
Mick
Hogg
said:
‘We
are
seeking
a
pay
increase
that
reflects
the
cost
of
living
crisis.
Inflation
is
running
at
12.3
per
cent
and
what
we
are
seeking
is
a
fair
settlement
that
comes
somewhere
near.

‘We
feel
8.2-8.3
per
cent
is
a
fair
offer.
If
it
is
good
enough
for
the
Scottish
government
to
give
bin
workers
and
teachers
a
10
per
cent
pay
increase
then
it
is
good
enough
for
rail
workers.’

Meanwhile,
the
RMT
has
also
declared
strikes
of
train
managers
on
Avanti
West
Coast
on
22
October
and
6
November,
in
a
dispute
over
the
what
the
union
described
as
the
‘imposition’
of
rosters.

Avanti,
which
has
just
been
given
a
six-month
contract
extension,
said
the
new
rosters
would
prevent
cancellations.

But
RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
responded:
‘Avanti
are
one
of
the
worst
operators
we
have
ever
tried
to
negotiate
with.

‘They
have
treated
our
members
appallingly
and
this
strike
action
is
the
culmination
of
months
of
neglect
and
a
strong
response
to
the
arrogance
bosses
have
shown.

‘Avanti
should
never
have
been
given
any
extension
to
their
contract
for
all
the
chaos
they
have
caused
passengers.

‘And
their
contempt
of
their
staff
is
part
and
parcel
of
their
disastrous
approach.’