MANAGEMENT and union officials were at odds last night over how Scottish rail maintenance workers voted in a ballot for strike action over a pay and condition claim. Rail passengers could face a summer of disruption, writes William Tinning.
Mr Phil McGarry, divisional organiser in Scotland of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said that ''a substantial majority'' of track and signalling workers (64%) voted to support a national union move for industrial action. He conceded, however, that only 62% of some 3000 members had participated in the ballot.
Management of First Engineering, which is responsible for rail maintenance in Scotland, claimed that 60% of its RMT membership in Scotland did not vote for action.
Nationally, the RMT claimed that employees at seven out of eight rail maintenance companies whose ballot results were announced yesterday voted for strike action by margins of up to five to one. One company voted against action.
Workers at a further six companies are expected to declare their results in the next seven days. Legally, the union could take action within 28 days.
Rail operators in Scotland - GNER, ScotRail, and Virgin Rail - said they would be keen to learn from Railtrack whether the possibility of industrial action would affect their daily services.
Railtrack, which owns all rail infrastructure, last night confirmed that the threatened industrial action would cause significant disruption. A spokesman said: ''We are waiting for the next move from the RMT.''
Mr McGarry said: ''First Engineering should stop bandying about percentages and address the legitimate claims of our members.
''They are sick to the back teeth of working long hours to meet the contractual demands of First Engineering and will take action if necessary.''
A First Engineering spokesman said: ''We are disappointed about the result of the strike ballot but this initiative has been instigated on a national basis and does not reflect the local situation. At First Engineering, 60% of our RMT membership did not vote for strike action.''
The spokesman said management had been talking to RMT representatives, who were part of a company joint working party about restructuring and intended to continue to do so.
The RMT will meet next Saturday to decide how soon any action should be taken.
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