RMT ballots members over sacked Edinburgh rail worker

A rail union is balloting members at Edinburgh Waverley for strike action after a crew member was sacked after announcing to angry first-class passengers they could not get a full cooked breakfast because of a broken boiler and staff shortages.

Sacked Mark Doughty and, inset, the rolls he was forced to serve. Picture: Greg Macvean

The RMT union confirmed today it is to ballot for both strike action and actions short of strike action all on-board East Coast members after the early morning incident which led to crew member Mark Doughty losing his job.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said the company claimed Mr Doughty’s announcement had brought the company into disrepute.

The union is taking action in an attempt to get Mr Doughty reinstated.

“RMT is appalled that a legitimate complaint from a member of the public over the company’s failings has been twisted and distorted by East Coast into a case against the member of staff whose only crime was to tell the truth about staff shortages and faulty equipment,” Mr Cash said.

“The unfair and disproportionate punishment meted out by management to Mark Doughty is a total miscarriage of justice. This is not a situation that can go unchallenged and as a result the union’s executive committee has decided to ballot all our On-Board East Coast members at Edinburgh Waver ley for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.”

Mr Cash added that the company had been repeatedly warned by union reps about the staffing situation and broken equipment.

The ballot will close on 10 March.

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