Workers on the Caledonian Sleeper, the overnight train which runs between London and various destinations in Scotland, currently operated by Serco, have voted by an 86% majority for further strikes, and by an 88% majority for further action short of a strike, on a 61% turnout in their latest industrial action ballot.
Sleeper workers struck for 11 days over the summer, in their dispute about pay and conditions. Below, we reprint comments from a striker in Glasgow. RMT plans a demonstration outside Serco's London headquarters on 1 December.
Serco’s Chief Executive had his pay increased to £4.9 million last year. Serco has paid out £17 millions to its shareholders. But then Serco turns round to us and tell us we’re not getting a penny.
This shows contempt for a workforce which has given 100% and more. Serco is claiming that their hands are tied and that it is the Scottish Government which makes the decisions. But Serco was able to decide to pay millions to its Chief Executive and shareholders. So why can’t they decide to pay us?
Throughout the pandemic we were the ones who were out at work, while management stayed at home. And now it will cost Serco more in train cancellations than what it would cost them to give us a pay rise. It’s a sad state of affairs when a company treats its workforce like this.
Our members come to the picket lines (which have been held every evening during the strike) when they can. We keep in touch by e-mail – we have around 40 members in the sleeper service, spread between Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. As long as we keep the e-mails going, that helps keep us together.
There has been no movement by management during the strike. They are not interested in talking to us. The strike will be followed by a ban on overtime and rest-day working, but at this stage we don’t know what impact it will have.
