Thursday 18 February 2010
ScotRail today said that a union's plans for a strike aimed at disrupting the famous overnight Caledonian Sleeper services are in disarray.
It follows the RMT switching strike dates for a THIRD time in a row.
A ScotRail spokesman said: "It’s the stuff of nightmares for the union because – no matter how often it changes the dates – our Sleepers will still run with customers having sweet dreams in their berths.”
He added: "It appears the constant switch of dates is as much down to the union’s incompetence as it is in trying - and failing - to cause maximum inconvenience to the travelling public.”
First, the RMT signalled that Sleeper services between Scotland and London would be targeted on Saturdays February 20 and March 13 as well as Monday March 1.
Those dates changed - after the union realised that the Sleepers don’t run on Saturday nights, rendering two of the strike days meaningless.
The RMT then announced the dates would all be Sundays - February 21 and 28 and March 14.
However, the strike times – between 20.01 on Sunday until 19.59 on Monday – meant that its members would have to travel from Scotland to London under their own steam and expense - and while on strike – to ensure that they could clock on for their return to work.
A ScotRail spokesman said: “I understand that a number of staff made their anger known to the union about having to travel to work during a strike as well as the extra costs attached.”
The RMT yesterday informed ScotRail that Sunday’s strike action involving the Sleepers has been called off.
It also told ScotRail that it will now hold two 48-hour Sleeper strikes from Sunday February 28 to Tuesday March 2 and from Sunday March 14 to Tuesday March 16.
The starting times have been tweaked in a bid to get around the need for staff to trek to London for start of shifts.
The ScotRail spokesman predicted: "It will be third time unlucky because our intent is that the Sleepers will run as normal.”
Media inquiries
Iain Wilson - 0141 335 4565 / iain.wilson@firstgroup.com
Notes to editors
ScotRail's Caledonian Sleeper service is the longest passenger train in the UK.
Sleepers travel across the border six nights a week (except Saturdays) - linking London Euston Station with Glasgow, London, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.
Bargain Berths start from £19 single.
The RMT has already announced it will strike on February 20, March 1 - and March 13, the day of one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, Scotland v England in the RBS 6 Nations game at Murrayfield.
ScotRail intends to run at least nine out of 10 trains on these strike dates.
The industrial action is over ScotRail’s plans to have ticket examiners rather than conductors as the second person on services on the new £300m line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate.
The line creates 130 new jobs and the trains will be no different from those which have operated in Strathclyde for 25 years.
