WORKERS on the Caledonian Sleeper will strike against the “intolerable personal stress” caused by management backtracking on promises to improve workplace conditions, their union announced yesterday.

RMT members working on the service will walk out from Sunday September 29 until Tuesday October 1, as well as not working any overtime, rest days or performing higher grade duties from October 2 onwards.

Workers are angry that Serco, the company that operates the service, has reneged on its commitment to dealing with a variety of staff concerns.

Management has met RMT representatives but the union says that insufficient progress has been made by the company in solving workplace issues.

The union also argued that Serco’s middle management was “openly hostile” to reaching a solution.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The union is angry and frustrated that promises made to us to address the serious concerns of the Caledonian Sleeper staff at the end of July have not been honoured and that leaves us with no choice but to activate our industrial action mandate.

“‎RMT members have been put under intolerable personal stress as a result of the company’s mismanagement of the sleeper service.

“They know it, they have promised to do something about it but they have failed to deliver. The move to strike action is entirely Serco’s fault and the public will understand that.

“Everyone knows that when it comes to failure they are global specialists. The union remains available for genuine and serious talks.”

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: “Scottish Labour believes the Caledonian Sleeper should, along with all of Scotland’s railways, be taken back into public ownership. It is time for SNP ministers to stop dithering and strip Serco of the franchise.”

Serco has been approached for comment by the Star.