Scottish rail workers stage another strike

Network Rail train

wikipedia-Phil Sangwell

Scottish railway signal workers stage another strike over a long-running dispute with the Network Rail.

The RMT union representing the workers has claimed that Network Rail had refused to negotiate over the union's proposals for 12-hour shifts for signalers. The proposed roster change would see the number of working days decrease from 5 to 3 but extend the number of shift hours from 8 to 12. 

The RMT union insists that such changes to working patterns would "considerably increase" the operating costs. 

The dispute resulted in several signalers' strikes in the Stirling area, including one on the Christmas Eve. 

According to RMT general secretary Bob Crow, the union is considering escalating the protest action. "We are now in the process of consulting signalling members across Scotland on the implications for the wider workforce of management's refusal to negotiate a reasonable settlement within existing rostering agreements," Crow said in late December. 

"Our members have shown their anger through their rock-solid support for the earlier waves of strike action, with pickets out in force sending a clear message to the employers that RMT is determined to win this fight," he added.