14 April 2005

Subway closed by strike action

Glasgow's Subway is closed on Friday 15 April and Saturday 16 April as station staff, drivers and permanent way employees, represented by the Transport & General Workers Union, take strike action in an ongoing dispute over pay and holidays.

Measures are being put in place to try and minimise the disruption to passengers. These include:

• Two, free, direct bus shuttle services operating on both days from 06.30 to 23.30. The buses run from Govan Station to Partick Station and from Shields Road Station to St Enoch station (First 38 bus stop, Jamaica Street South of Howard Street beside Sound Control). The stop is labelled Subway Replacement Service.
• First ScotRail is honouring Subway season and multi-journey tickets on both days between Queen Street and Partick.
• Subway season ticket holders are to receive refunds for days lost due to the industrial action. These can be collected at booking offices following the stoppages.
• Information on alternative services is being made available outside stations and at key stations which will be staffed for this purpose.
• St Enoch Transcentre and Hillhead Travel Centre are open for business as normal.
• Dependent on staff availability, a limited Subway service direct between Hillhead and Buchanan Street may operate during the morning and evening peaks on Friday. Further information will be issued when it becomes available.

Douglas Ferguson, SPT's Director of Operation, said, 'We apologise to passengers for the disruption caused by these strikes. We are doing all we can to resolve this dispute and to provide alternative means of transport. We have made a very fair offer to the Subway staff and we are disappointed it has been rejected, particularly as conductors, ticket examiners, station, engineering and clerical staff with First ScotRail have accepted a pay deal worth 8% over two years.

"Our final offer is worth 8.4% immediately with another 1% payable when new rosters are adopted. A further 1% productivity and flexibility payment is also available for 2006/07 over and above any cost of living increase.

"Staff need to realise that there is no new money available. Any increase beyond the two-year 5.9% rise accepted by other local authority workers, has to be paid for by corresponding improvements in flexibility and productivity. It can't work any other way. The more strikes there are the less money there is available to pay for any kind of increase."

ends