Rail signal staff plan more strikes

Railway signal workers in Scotland are to stage two further strikes in a dispute over career progression, union leaders announced today.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out for 24 hours from 0559 on January 23 and again from 0559 on January 27.

The action follows a 72-hour walkout over Christmas among the union members, who are based at the West of Scotland Signalling Centre.

The RMT said the dispute was over changes to an arrangement under which vacant posts were offered to staff.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT has tried to reach a negotiated settlement to this unilateral ripping-up of a local arrangement but unfortunately the management have refused to see sense and have failed to engage with us at all since the strike action over Christmas.

"RMT members will not stand by while management unilaterally rip up agreements and practices that have been in place at local level for decades.

"As a consequence of management's continued intransigence, we have no option but to go ahead with this further wave of strike action.

"RMT members are furious at this refusal to comply with a local arrangement that offers genuine career progression opportunities."

PA