LONDON — Commuters in Scotland and northern England faced major disruption Friday as rail workers went on strike in a pay dispute, according to a wire service report.
ScotRail said all services, except for long-haul sleeper trains, were canceled because of the walkout by train drivers. Arriva said it expected 40 percent of its usual services to run.
However, the threat of further industrial action by rail workers in southern England was lifted Friday when union leaders agreed to further pay talks.
South West Trains welcomed the decision by the Rail Maritime and Transport union, which has held a series of brief strikes over the past few weeks, disrupting commuter service in and out of London’s Waterloo station.
The ScotRail strike was set for 24 hours and further strikes are planned for March 6, 11 and 19. The action against Arriva, which serves Manchester, Liverpool and a broad swathe of northern England, was to last 48 hours.
Workers from both companies took the industrial action after rejecting pay offers unions considered were inadequate.
ScotRail said it had offered a “last ditch” offer of 16.5 percent, including self-financed flexibility measures, that would raise drivers’ annual salaries from 23,000 pounds (dlrs 32,600) to 26,900 pounds (dlrs 38,200).
The company said it was also prepared to consider a 3 percent annual rise that would lift pay to 28,400 (dlrs 40,300) within two years.
The RMT union said that ScotRail drivers were among the lowest paid in the industry and deserved more.
“The result of the low pay is that the company does not have enough drivers and relies heavily on rest day working and overtime,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.
The Arriva dispute involves two unions and centers on perceived unfair wage differentials between workers.
Station and retail staff represented by the TSSA union are seeking a 31 percent pay rise, a claim the company said was unrealistic.
An offer of a 3 percent pay rise plus 5 percent based on productivity was rejected by train conductors represented by RMT who resent an 18 percent pay rise and Christmas bonuses given to drivers.
“Arriva has to understand it cannot give one group of workers an 18 percent pay rise and treat everyone else with contempt,” Crow said.