COP26: Glasgow rail and bin strikes set to bring severe disruption during summit

Meanwhile, refuse workers have also threatened to strike during the conference unless council body Cosla offers them a better pay deal.

COP26 will take place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12 and will see tens of thousands of global leaders, activists, campaigners and protesters descend on the city.

Scottish Labour’s transport spokesman, Neil Bibby, warned COP26 is “falling into sheer chaos”, while the Tories called it a “major embarrassment”.

Large-scale transport disruption has previously been predicted during the conference, with major roads in the city closed to traffic.

Just some of the road disruption during COP26

READ MORE: Union boss warns 'every service' disrupted and 'no ScotRail trains running' during COP26 strikes

RMT members on the Caledonian Sleeper service, which is run by Serco, will also strike from October 31 to November 2 and from November 11 to 13.

Sunday train services in Scotland have been crippled for months as workers protest over pay and conditions.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Both ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper have had adequate time to come up with a fair pay settlement for Scotland’s rail workers in advance of Cop26.

“Instead they have kicked the can down the road and left us with no option but to put this action on today.

“We know that these strikes will close rail services in Scotland but the blame for that lies with Abellio, Serco and the political leadership at Holyrood.

“It’s time for all parties to take their rail workers seriously, get back round the table and give these staff at the front line of our green transport services the justice, respect and reward they deserve. ”

The union had earlier announced the result of a ballot in which 84% of more than 2,000 members backed more strikes over the ScotRail dispute.

COP26 is at the SEC from October 31 to November 12

READ MORE: Glasgow COP26 road closures and traffic warnings confirmed ahead of climate summit

In response to news of industrial action going ahead, a spokesperson from ScotRail said: “It’s extremely disappointing that the RMT have opted to continue with this highly damaging strike action, particularly when a pay offer, negotiated over several weeks, has been made to the trade unions.

“We’re seeing customers gradually return to Scotland’s railway, but the scale of the financial situation ScotRail is facing is stark.

“To build a more sustainable and greener railway for the future and reduce the burden on the taxpayer, we need to change.

“All of us in the railway: management, staff, trade unions, suppliers, and Government, need to work together to modernise the railway so that it is fit for the future.”

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “We welcome the constructive talks which have taken place between all parties.

“A significant offer has been made by employers since this RMT ballot opened and we understand that the RMT will now ballot its membership again on the substance of this offer.

“We hope that RMT members and the other unions will agree and accept this offer, putting to an end existing and proposed industrial disputes and action.

“Rail workers have played their part in keeping the country moving through the pandemic and we are sure that they will see the importance of the moment and the role they can play in showing the best Scotland’s railway has to offer as we welcome world leaders from across the globe to COP26.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last week that she hoped the dispute could be resolved before Cop26.

She said: “I would strongly encourage both sides of this dispute to get back round the table and find a resolution that is in the interests of those who work in our railways.”

Mr Bibby said it was “an embarrassment to Scotland that the SNP can’t even keep the trains running when the world’s eyes are upon us”.

He said: “This conference is supposed to be about preventing environmental catastrophe – and the SNP are setting the stage by letting trains grind to a halt and litter fill the streets.”

Scottish Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: “This is major embarrassment for the SNP. Ministers should have resolved this dispute months ago. The SNP’s inaction has meant misery for passengers who have had to endure major disruption to services this year.

“The eyes of the world are set to be on Glasgow in a matter of weeks. World leaders and delegates arriving in the city to tackle the climate emergency will be greeted by rail services that have ground to a halt”.

Meanwhile, refuse collectors and members of the GMB union in Glasgow also voted in favour of industrial action during the summit.

A total of 96.9% of those asked voted for a strike to take place if there is not an improved offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla).

Last month, 95% of those asked in a GMB Scotland ballot rejected Cosla’s £850-a-year increase for staff earning up to £25,000 a year.

Members in Glasgow are now set to go on strike when the city will be welcoming world leaders for the climate change summit if the pay dispute is not resolved.

Chris Mitchell, of GMB, called on the Scottish Government and Cosla to take more action.

Speaking with members of Glasgow’s Bridgeton and Queenslie depots gathered behind him, he said: “We have a clear message to the Scottish Government and Cosla.

“We were called Covid heroes and essential workers.

“This is when low-paid workers take a stand against Cosla and say enough is enough, because these heroes here deserve a pay rise.

“Stand with us, not against us.”

In a post on Twitter, a spokesperson for GMB Glasgow said: “In Glasgow we have reached the legal threshold in our Industrial Action Ballot.

“Unless there is an improved offer on Monday we will be taking action in Glasgow during COP 26.”

Commenting on GMB refuse workers voting to strike during COP26, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This overwhelming mandate must be a wake-up call for Cosla and the Scottish Government to start taking these negotiations more seriously.

“Scotland is set to be humiliated on the world stage because of the SNP’s complete disregard for workers.

“Everything from refuse collection to public transport will be plunged into chaos during Cop26 if they do not stand up for workers fighting for fair pay and conditions.”

The call for industrial action comes after Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken was criticised for saying the city needs a “spruce up” before the Cop26 conference.

Her comments received a backlash from politicians and members of the public who claimed she was “out of touch” with the city.

Mr Sawar added: “Glasgow’s refuse workers have gone above and beyond to try and keep the city’s growing waste crisis under control, and in return they are being treated with contempt by Susan Aitken’s SNP administration.

“The SNP must intervene to get these workers the deal they deserve and resolve the myriad of industrial disputes threatening to overshadow Cop26.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said pay settlements for council workers (excluding teachers) are a matter for Cosla and are determined through negotiations at the Scottish Joint Committee (SJC), adding: “The Scottish Government is not a member of the SJC and council pay is therefore not a matter it can intervene in.

“It will be for trade union colleagues to reach a negotiated settlement with Cosla.”