SCOTS FAMILIES are facing Christmas apart after ScotRail staff announced plans to strike on December 22 and Christmas Eve.
Thousands could be hit by the travel misery that will cripple the country in the wake of yesterday’s bombshell, which was delivered by the RMT Union.
The dates chosen for the 24-hour action could leave some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents, in particular the elderly, home alone over the festive period.
The strike announcement comes just days after the charity WRVS revealed that as many as 10,000 older people in Scotland will spend Christmas alone this year.
It now expects that number to rise and has been joined by Age Scotland in calling on the feuding sides to settle their differences to ensure no one spends Christmas in forced isolation.
A spokesman for Scotland’s leading older people’s charity said: “It is hugely important that these parties come to an agreement before Christmas.
“It would be a tragedy if the nation’s elderly found themselves separated from their families.”
The strike action has been denounced as “selfish” and “mercenary” by ScotRail bosses, who said the timing was a “clear attack” on the travelling public across Scotland.
In a hard-hitting statement, a spokesman said the move was designed to give those on strike extra time off and full wages, while having the maximum impact on Scots in the run-up to Christmas.
“It also appears mercenary and opportunistic to choose times when families and friends will be travelling for festive reunions and many other people, including staff in hospitals and shops, still have to get to and from work.
“The union should immediately call a halt to this cynically timed and unjustified strike, especially when only 24% of its members voted for such action.”
RMT members voted last month by 2-1 in favour of industrial action following the sacking of a staff member it alleges was simply trying to make sure a passenger had the correct ticket.
Scott Lewis was dismissed for making “unwanted contact” with the man, but union general secretary Bob Crow yesterday called for his immediate reinstatement as he claimed the membership had no option but to strike.
“Scott Lewis has been victimised and sacked for trying to help a passenger within the written procedures set out in ScotRail’s own policies in what is an absolute travesty of justice,” he said.
“RMT members will not sit back and watch while their colleagues are picked off in this fashion by a management who think that they can fire staff without as single shred of evidence to support their case.
“That is why RMT had no choice but to announce this programme of action.”
The union said all of its members, with the exception of those working on sleeper services, would refuse to book on for any turns of duty between 23.59pm on Friday December 21 and 23.58pm on Saturday December 22, nor between 23.59pm on Sunday 23 and 23.58 on Christmas Eve.
Each member of its sleeper service staff has, however, been instructed to strike between 5.30pm on December 21 and 5.29pm on December 22, and between 5.30pm on December 23 and 5.29pm on Christmas Eve.
Both the union and ScotRail have said they are willing to engage in “meaningful” talks, but Mr Crow has made it clear he will seek Mr Lewis’ reinstatement.
That appears unlikely at present as ScotRail has said it has shown the union unequivocal evidence of misconduct by the employee, claiming that the RMT was misleading its members by claiming otherwise.
The firm’s spokesman added: “If anyone believes the conduct towards a customer, who was reduced to tears, is acceptable let alone worthy of a strike then they are in the wrong job.”
Politicians including Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser and Perth MSP Pete Wishart urged the parties to get back to the negotiating table as a matter of urgency.
“If this planned action goes ahead there will be no winners,” Mr Fraser said.
Mr Wishart added: “This is the worst possible time for industrial action on this scale as this is often the one opportunity each year that some families have to come together.”
ScotRail said it had “contingency plans” in place that would enable it to run “as many services as possible” during the two 24-hour strikes, which take place on one of the busiest days for last-minute Christmas shopping and at key times for travel to be with family and friends.
It has also pledged that all Sleeper ticket holders get home for Christmas.
Of the 2,200 RMT members employed by ScotRail, just 35% chose to vote. Of those, only 819 backed strike action.