CALEDONIAN Sleeper staff have confirmed they will go on strike later this month, with their union saying the operators Serco has failed to deliver on “promises” to address “intolerable” stress caused by working conditions.
Members of the RMT have been instructed not to book on shift between 12pm on Sunday, September 29, and 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 1.
They have also been told to not to work any overtime or rest days and to work to their original job description from 12.01am on Wednesday, October 2, until further notice.
The move follows a series of problems since new rolling stock was introduced in the spring.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The union is angry and frustrated that promises made to us to address the serious concerns of the Caledonian Sleeper staff at the end of July have not been honoured and that leaves us with no choice but to activate our industrial action mandate. RMT members have been put under intolerable personal stress as a result of the company’s mismanagement of the sleeper service.
“It promised to do something about it but it has failed to deliver. The move to strike action is entirely Serco’s fault and the public will understand that.
Serco’s managing director of the Caledonian Sleeper, Ryan Flaherty, said: “We are deeply disappointed and frustrated at this industrial action by the RMT, but most of all we are bemused as they have been unable to explain what will bring this dispute to a resolution. We have met the RMT and company council on many occasions and the changes they have requested have
either been completed or are under way, including the recruitment of more staff at Edinburgh, Glasgow and London for a six-month period while the new Mark 5 carriages settle in.
“This action is completely unnecessary and we urge the RMT to come back and tell us what they want. We are ready to go to mediation and hold further discussions.”
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