MORE than 100 Glasgow Subway workers are set to go on strike later this month after saying they feel "devalued and ignored".
Trade union Unite said staff employed at the city's Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Subway had voted by 97.5% in favour of industrial action amid a dispute over pay and working conditions.
A series of 24-hour stoppages have been planned on June 21, 25, 27 and 28, while an overtime ban will be in place from June 13.
The union warned that chronic under-staffing has led to the Subway system struggling, with train drivers and station staff often working up to 10 hours over their contract of 39 hours per week.
Unite said that SPT has not made any improvements, and that staff are frequently called in to work additional shifts at short notice.
The Subway system will be closed during the entirety of the Glasgow Summer Sessions, including for the Punk All Dayer festival on June 21 which features the Sex Pistols, Frank Carter, The Stranglers, The Undertones and Buzzcocks.
Other acts set to appear at the sessions are Sting, Simple Minds and Stereophonics.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Glasgow Subway members membership feel totally devalued and ignored.
“We will not tolerate our members being exhausted and underpaid. The Subway system is running on empty.
“SPT has had every opportunity to resolve the chronic issues that have resulted in this dispute but have chosen not to act.”
Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: “The strike action will cause major disruption across the Subway system but this is entirely the fault of SPT’s management which has continuously ignored the workers’ concerns about being overstretched and under-staffed.”
SPT said it is “disappointed” workers have resorted to striking, but maintained it will work with the union to resolve any issues.
Director of transport operations Richard Robinson said: “We have been notified by the Unite the Union that it intends to ask its members to take strike action on June 21, 25, 27 and 28.
“SPT is currently looking at what this means for services on those days.
“While we are disappointed that Unite has chosen to take this action while we are still in active discussions, SPT remains committed to working with Unite to resolve all issues as we plan for future working arrangements for the Subway.”
