East Coast trains staff to strike on Bank Holiday

MORE than 200 train staff are set to stage a 24-hour strike on Bank Holiday Monday in support of a colleague sacked for telling the truth.
Rail worker Mark Doughty who was sacked by East Coast. Picture: Greg MacveanRail worker Mark Doughty who was sacked by East Coast. Picture: Greg Macvean
Rail worker Mark Doughty who was sacked by East Coast. Picture: Greg Macvean

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on East Coast trains will walk out for 24 hours.

The staff work as on-board train managers and catering managers on trains in and out of the station, including the intercity route to London King’s Cross.

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The Evening News revealed in February how Mr Doughty, 39, from Gilmerton, a rail worker for nearly 14 years, had been fired for explaining to first-class passengers on an early-morning train from Edinburgh to London that they were not being served a full cooked breakfast because of a staff shortage and a broken boiler.

East Coast management claimed he had brought the company into disrepute. But even the passenger who lodged an official complaint about the service – which saw customers offered “disgusting” paninis – was horrified to hear of the sacking and said he found it “hard to believe a member of staff can simply be dismissed for telling the truth to insistent passengers like myself”.

A one-day walk-out planned for Good Friday was called off after management agreed to a “director’s review” – a last-ditch appeal – but the union said the company had refused to consider reinstatement.

Monday’s strike will involve on-board train managers and catering managers on trains in and out of Waverley, including the inter-city route to London King’s Cross.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The decision to take industrial action has not been taken lightly.

“RMT agreed to suspend the previous industrial action in good faith, in order to pursue a director’s review. We were determined to right this outrageous injustice of a member fired for telling passengers the truth.

“At the director’s review the union’s negotiating team put forward new and constructive ideas to find a resolution to this dispute. However, the company failed to see this as an opportunity to negotiate and refused to contemplate reinstating our member.

“There is not a shred of doubt that this dismissal was unfair and a travesty of justice. It was hoped management would see sense and agree to resolve this matter. Regretfully this did not happen and as a result the union has been forced into pursuing industrial action.”

He said the union remained available for talks.

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A spokesman for Virgin Trains East Coast said: “We’re disappointed at this decision to push ahead with action despite extensive efforts to bring this matter to a conclusion.

“This action would only affect a number of Edinburgh-based staff and our services will run as normal, so passengers shouldn’t be

concerned.”

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