Rail strike looms over job cuts threat

STRIKE action is being threatened by rail staff in a row over job cuts in Scotland.

Strike action threat for Scotland's railways

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) union has threatened to ballot its members at ScotRail if control room staffing is reduced.

General secretary Manuel Cortes has written to the company seeking a guarantee that staffing will remain at current levels.

He said: “This is not a pay issue, this is a safety issue. Our controllers are already working flat out.

“The Forth Road Bridge closure exposed just how overstretched they are in this high-stress environment with no slack in the system to cover sickness absence or maternity leave, with train services in Scotland already running on the good will of our members.

“Our members report that being just one member of staff down increases stress and fear an accident. They are therefore desperately worried that a loss of seven members of staff is courting a rail disaster.”

Mr Cortes said strikes could only be avoided if written assurances are given that staff numbers will not be cut.