RAIL union leaders and Labour politicians called for striking Caledonian Sleeper workers to be offered a “fair deal” today as they warned staff have been “left out in the cold.”

The RMT said that its members working on the sleeper service are taking industrial action on Friday and Saturday because of an unresolved dispute about pay and conditions with operator Serco.

Action began at 23:59 on Thursday with a lively picket in Glasgow which included dancing, a rally and contributions from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who offered solidarity to the workers and said that he was fully in support of the action. 

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the union remained willing to take part in further talks. 

He said: “It’s a scandal that Serco and their political paymasters in the Scottish government are leaving the sleeper staff out in the cold.

“There will be no sleeper services back to London from Cop26 and the responsibility for that lies fairly and squarely with the company and those holding the purse strings.

“There can be no climate justice without workplace justice and it’s time for a fair deal for the Caledonian Sleeper staff.”

Earlier this week the most recent offer of a 1.4 per cent rise from the company — below both inflation and a deal agreed for Scotrail workers -—was overwhelmingly rejected by members.

Pickets were also out at key locations of the route overnight, with lines set up in London, Edinburgh and Inverness.

In response to the strikes, Serco said it will be cancelling all Highland services on November 11 and 12, while the Caledonian Sleeper service will run southbound from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London Euston on Friday and return northbound the following day.