Scotrail Strike Action over Christmas!

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20541396

This is purely speculation (Yes I know you should never do it...!) but the way the BBC article was written does anyone suspect (like I did) that this could be something to do with "The Big Man" incident............

[JayMac]

Information from elsewhere on the internet is that this has nothing to do with the 'Big Man' incident. In that incident the passenger involved certainly wasn't reduced to tears.

[Maxwell P]

From the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers):

DISMISSAL, S. LEWIS, TICKET EXAMINER ^ FIRST SCOTRAIL

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 22nd November 2012 (IR/652/12),




The union^s executive has now had opportunity to consider the ballot result and has taken the decision to call on all our members at Scotrail to take strike action as listed below:

All members (excluding Sleeper Service members) are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

23.59 hours on Friday 21st December 2012 and 23.58 hours on Saturday 22nd December 2012.
23.59 hours on Sunday 23rd December 2012 and 23.58 hours on Monday 24th December 2012.
All Sleeper Service members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

17.30 hours on Friday 21st December 2012 and 17.29 hours on Saturday 22nd December 2012.
17.30 hours on Sunday 23rd December 2012 and 17.29 hours on Monday 24th December 2012.
I am sure all members will show their support for colleagues taking part in the above industrial action and I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of your members.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Scottish rail strike: Talks fail to prevent Christmas action

Rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas are to go ahead after talks between ScotRail managers and trade union officials failed to achieve agreement.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) plan to take part in the action on 22 December and Christmas Eve.

The RMT voted to strike in support of ticket examiner Scott Lewis, who was dismissed by ScotRail.

ScotRail called the strike a "clear attack" on the travelling public.

The company insisted that most trains would still run on the strike days.

A ScotRail spokesman said: "It is extremely disappointing that the talks failed to reach a solution. The RMT wanted the former ticket examiner to be reinstated."

The spokesman added: "We will get people home this Christmas. Our contingency plans will keep any impact on our customers to a minimum. There is no doubt that the majority of our services will run."

The rail firm indicated it would be available for further "meaningful talks" at any time.

Details of the incident involving Mr Lewis which led to his departure from ScotRail are disputed.

The RMT has claimed that he was merely trying to ensure that a man on board a train purchased the correct ticket.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has called for Mr Lewis to be reinstated.

After the talks, he said: "RMT arrived at the talks today only to find that ScotRail were not prepared to discuss the issue at the heart of the dispute and that's the dismissal and reinstatement of Scott Lewis.

"We have been led up the garden path by the company who had no intention of entering into meaningful discussions and as a result of ScotRail's actions the strike remains on."