RAILWORKERS in both ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper have backed strike action as they battle pay cuts.

RMT members in the Scottish government-owned companies voted overwhelmingly to walk out, winning a 85 per cent strike mandate on a 64 per cent turnout at ScotRail and 90 per cent support on a 66 per cent turnout at Caledonian Sleeper.

Workers had been offered 2 per cent backdated to April, with a further 1 per cent from January, but rejected the “derisory” sub-inflation offer amid fury that MSPs had awarded themselves a 6.7 per cent pay rise over the same period.