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Rail signallers in wildcat action Rail signallers in wildcat action
(about 1 hour later)
Signallers at Edinburgh's Waverley station have taken wildcat strike action, bringing the station to a standstill for an hour on Monday.Signallers at Edinburgh's Waverley station have taken wildcat strike action, bringing the station to a standstill for an hour on Monday.
The action was taken in a dispute over the provision of cover for breaks.The action was taken in a dispute over the provision of cover for breaks.
David Simpson, of Network Rail in Scotland, said the "deliberately disruptive, unprovoked action" was "completely unacceptable".David Simpson, of Network Rail in Scotland, said the "deliberately disruptive, unprovoked action" was "completely unacceptable".
Ian Macintyre, of the rail union RMT, said the signallers felt the action was necessary in the interests of safety.Ian Macintyre, of the rail union RMT, said the signallers felt the action was necessary in the interests of safety.
Mr Simpson said the workers left their posts at about 1225 GMT, returning to work at 1335 GMT.Mr Simpson said the workers left their posts at about 1225 GMT, returning to work at 1335 GMT.
We have agreed ways of doing things with the RMT to resolve issues without inflicting major disruption on passengers David SimpsonNetwork RailWe have agreed ways of doing things with the RMT to resolve issues without inflicting major disruption on passengers David SimpsonNetwork Rail
He said: "This deliberately disruptive action was taken without prior warning and certainly breaks with normal resolution practices.He said: "This deliberately disruptive action was taken without prior warning and certainly breaks with normal resolution practices.
"Their action resulted in all services being brought to a controlled and safe stop, with no services running through the station for an hour.""Their action resulted in all services being brought to a controlled and safe stop, with no services running through the station for an hour."
He added: "We understand that this action was taken due to a disagreement within the signalling centre over arrangements for cover during breaks.He added: "We understand that this action was taken due to a disagreement within the signalling centre over arrangements for cover during breaks.
"The impact of this deliberately disruptive, unprovoked action on the travelling public is completely unacceptable and Network Rail has launched an immediate investigation."The impact of this deliberately disruptive, unprovoked action on the travelling public is completely unacceptable and Network Rail has launched an immediate investigation.
"We have agreed ways of doing things with the RMT to resolve issues without inflicting major disruption on passengers."We have agreed ways of doing things with the RMT to resolve issues without inflicting major disruption on passengers.
"These have been completely ignored in this instance and we need to understand why, and prevent a repetition.""These have been completely ignored in this instance and we need to understand why, and prevent a repetition."
Failed talksFailed talks
Mr Macintyre, the RMT's regional organiser for Scotland, said: "Our members took the action in the interests of safety. Mr Macintyre, the RMT's regional organiser for Scotland, told the BBC Scotland news website: "Our members took the action in the interests of safety.
"They felt they had been working intensively, looking at screens to ensure the safe movement of trains, working in the same way as air trafic controllers."They felt they had been working intensively, looking at screens to ensure the safe movement of trains, working in the same way as air trafic controllers.
"After four hours they felt they had to have their personal needs' break.""After four hours they felt they had to have their personal needs' break."
He added that the signallers had been trying to reach agreement with management over cover for breaks but this had failed to happen.He added that the signallers had been trying to reach agreement with management over cover for breaks but this had failed to happen.