ScotRail workers, specifically members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), have announced a 48-hour strike scheduled for March 30 and 31, 2024. The strike, encompassing Operations Team Manager grades, arises from unresolved disputes over on-call working arrangements, an issue dating back to 2021. TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust highlighted the strike as a measure of last resort, emphasizing the critical role members play in the operation of Scotland’s railways and underscoring their demands for respect and fair treatment from ScotRail concerning their grievances.

Simultaneously, British civil servants from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are poised to strike in response to directives mandating a return to office work for at least two days a week. This move has sparked controversy amongst up to 1,000 ONS staff, who are being balloted by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union over potential strike action. The PCS has objected to the withdrawal of flexible working arrangements, with General Secretary Fran Heathcote highlighting concerns over the impact on staff morale and workload management. The governmental push for in-person work, citing the need for face-to-face interaction and its impact on project progression, contrasts with the PCS’s stance, demanding a review and negotiation of the proposed changes.

Both strikes emanate from broader debates on work conditions, flexibility, and the balance between employer expectations and employee welfare within significant UK public sectors. They present considerable implications for operational continuity in Scotland’s railway services and the functioning of the ONS amidst governmental efforts to normalize post-pandemic working conditions.