Caledonian Sleeper workers to stage 48-hour strikes

Caledonian Sleeper workers are to strike over “safety and wellbeing” concerns.

Passengers on board the overnight trains between Scotland and London will face four days of disruption next month after RMT members were balloted on industrial action and action short of strike.

However, operator Serco said less than a third of its workforce voted in favour of strike action.

Sleeper hosts and team leaders will stage a walkout from 5.30pm on Sunday, October 4 until 5.30pm on Tuesday, October 6.

They will again strike for 48 hours between 5.30pm on Sunday, October 11 and 5.30pm on Tuesday, October 13.

In addition, a ban on overtime, working on days off and undertaking higher-grade duties will also be imposed from October 6-11 and indefinitely from October 13.

The union claims Serco is providing “insufficient berths for rest periods” and is failing to “address the fatigue experienced by RMT members as a result”.

RMT’s national executive committee said it was “appalled at Serco’s lack of concern for the safety of RMT members”.

However, Serco said it has “done everything possible” to provide staff with rest areas on board and has also engaged with an independent fatigue specialist to review working patterns.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Our vote shows that members on Serco Caledonian Sleeper are absolutely determined to seek justice in this dispute and I am sure this will be displayed by full support across the service for this industrial action.

“A clear message has been sent to management by the vote and now by this call to action.

“It is now time for the Serco management to respond in a meaningful and positive way to the serious safety issues at the heart of this dispute.‎”

In response, Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s managing director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “We have been advised by the RMT that its members intend to take strike action on Caledonian Sleeper services next month. This is despite less than a third of our workforce voting in favour of this in their ballot.

“We are currently reviewing plans for services on the dates in question and will update guests should there be any changes that affect them.

“Since we started operating a reduced programme in March, all staff have received their full wage despite working significantly reduced hours.

“We have done everything possible to provide staff with rest areas on board and have also engaged with an independent fatigue specialist to review working patterns, even though we do not accept the claim that it is an issue.

“The decision to launch strike action is especially disappointing as it comes at a time when all of our focus should be on supporting the Scottish Government to rebuild the economy and maintain vital transport links.”