TSSA warns strike action in ScotRail likely

TSSA has written to ScotRail warning them to expect industrial action after TSSA members working as Team Managers in ScotRail voted for strike action in a dispute over staff shortages.

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: 

"Abellio have been raking in huge management fees throughout the pandemic. Now they expect our members to cover shortages caused by industrial action by the RMT, when they should be getting round the table and sorting the problems out.

"Our members in the Team Manager grades do difficult and demanding jobs. They have gone to work, day in and day out throughout the pandemic, keeping the trains running safely. They're not there to fill in for absence caused by industrial action or understaffing.

"Our members have rightly said no, and when the company wouldn’t listen, they voted for industrial action.

"The ball’s in Abellio’s court now. They have my number and I’m ready to take their call at any time. But make no mistake if Abellio continues down this path our members will be out on strike."

The grades involved are Conductor Team Managers, Revenue Team Managers and On Train Managers.

Members voted by 62.5% for strike action, and 93.75% for action short of strike.

In the six months March-September 2020, Abellio received a management fee of £8.8million for running ScotRail.