Scotland to face more rail chaos on Wednesday as UK-wide strike confirmed
Over 40,000 workers from Network Rail and other operators are walking out next week after union talks collapsed
Scotland's train passengers will face more rail disruption on Wednesday with over 40,000 workers across the UK going on strike.
The RMT confirmed the walk-out will go ahead after talks with rail bosses fell through on Friday.
Here's what you need to know:
Who is going on strike?
More than 40,000 workers at Network Rail (NR) and 14 train operating companies are set to strike in the UK - impacting Scotland's railways.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out.
The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has also announced a strike by its members at Avanti West Coast on the same day.
NR pointed out that all train operators may be affected by the July 27 strike, whether they have an individual dispute with the RMT or not, as signallers control train movements across the entire country.
The companies affected by the RMT strikes are: Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
Customers are being urged to check before they travel.
What are the strikes about?
NR is introducing reforms. It comes as fewer passengers are travelling by train because of the pandemic, which has led to more people working from home.
They say a two-year, 8% deal with a no-compulsory-redundancy guarantee and other benefits and extras was on the table but the RMT left the talks.
Why is the union striking?
The RMT said there has been no change or improvement in the pay offers it has received and said the threat of compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50% cuts to maintenance work had been raised.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said driver-only operations and the "ransacking" of members' terms and conditions had also been put on the table by the train operating companies.
Are any breakthroughs likely in this dispute?
There is plenty of bad blood around as NR has accused the RMT of "obstinacy" and branded its action as a "political campaign" while the Department for Transport said the union is "hell-bent on creating further misery for passengers across the UK".
It added that the rail industry has to modernise and be brought into the 21st century for the benefit of passengers and staff.
In turn Mr Lynch has said the RMT's members are "more determined than ever" to secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions and they will not be bullied or cajoled.
He added that the Government needs to stop its interference in the dispute so the rail employers can come to a negotiated settlement.
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