Glasgow subway strikes going ahead after staff reject pay-deal

Glasgow subway strikes are going ahead this week after staff rejected a pay deal on Tuesday.

More than 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers are to take part in industrial action which Unite the union said will bring the “subway to a stop” on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

The strikes were called off last week as staff considered a new offer on pay, terms, and conditions.

But, Unite announced on Tuesday that workers had “overwhelmingly rejected” the deal.

“The offer tabled by SPT was overwhelmingly rejected by our members,” Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said.

“Strike action is now set to take place over a series of days bringing the subway to a stop. SPT has only itself to blame for failing to come up with any workable solution to this dispute which stretches back to last year.”

A continuous ban on overtime, which came into force on June 13, remains in place.

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 leading to significant work-life pressures.

“Unite’s Glasgow subway members are fed up with SPT’s half measures and failure to deliver decent working conditions,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

“It has had every opportunity to sort out understaffing, shift pay and working hours. The workers have rightly said enough is enough because the subway is running on empty. SPT know what it needs to do to resolve the dispute but has entirely failed to act.”

A spokesperson for SPT said: “Despite ongoing negotiations and a revised reasonable and fair offer being made to Unite the Union, Union members have decided to go ahead with planned industrial action on Wednesday 25 June, Friday 27 June and Saturday 28 June.

“As a result, subway customers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements across all three days (25, 27, and 28 June 2025). Customers are advised to monitor social media for updates. Full services will run on Thursday, 26 June, from 0630 and on Sunday, 29 June, from 1000.

“SPT remains committed to seeking a resolution through positive ongoing negotiations.”