Glasgow Subway could close over TRNSMT festival as three days of strike announced amid pay dispute

Glasgow subway could be closed during TRNSMT festival as workers announce further strike action amid an ongoing pay dispute.

Unite, the union, announced on Tuesday that staff will walk out on July 11, 12, and 13 in a dispute over pay and “intolerable” working conditions. A continuous overtime ban has been in place since June 13.

The new dates for strike action will take place over the weekend of Scotland’s biggest music festival, TRNSMT.

With Gracie Abrams and Snow Patrol set to headline, thousands of fans are set to descend on Glasgow city over the weekend.

The festival will take place at Glasgow Green from July 11-13.

The continued strike action comes after more than 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers took part in industrial action on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of last week.

The dispute centres on the working conditions of SPT workers as Unite claims the subway system is “struggling” to operate due to chronic understaffing.

The union says train drivers and station staff are routinely working up to ten hours beyond contracted hours to keep the system operating without any improvements to shifts, overtime, and weekend allowances.

Unite said its members are also repeatedly called in to work shifts at short notice, which leads to significant work-life pressures.

Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: “SPT can fix this dispute at any point but they are refusing to do so.

“It needs to make an improved offer which our members can then seriously consider.

“Strike action is now set to take place later this month which will again bring the subway to a complete stop.

“This isn’t inevitable if SPT come back to the table with an improved offer, but if they don’t, then the blame will be entirely with them for their failure to fix this dispute.”

SPT has been asked for comment.